GP.05 Sensory-motor network functional connectivity in hemiparetic children with perinatal stroke

Abstract

Background: Perinatal stroke is the most common cause of hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Post-stroke plasticity is well studied in adults, but mechanisms in children are poorly understood. To better understand the relationship between functional connectivity and disability, we used rsfMRI to compare connectivity with sensorimotor dysfunction. Methods: Subjects with periventricular venous infarction were compared to controls. Resting-state BOLD signal was acquired on 3T MRI and analyzed using SPM12. Functional connectivity was computed between S1 and M1 of the left/non-lesioned and right/ lesioned hemisphere. Primary outcome was connectivity expressed as a Pearson correlation coefficient. Motor function was measured using the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), and Melbourne Assessment (MA). Proprioceptive function was measured using a robotic position matching task (VarXY). Results: Subjects included 17 PVI and 21 controls. AHA and MA in patients were negatively correlated with connectivity (increased connectivity=poorer performance). Correlations between AHA and connectivity between non-lesioned M1 to bilateral S1s were significant. VarXY in PVI was inversely correlated with connectivity (increased connectivity=improved performance), significantly between non-lesioned S1 and bilateral M1s. Control VarXY was positively correlated with connectivity between non-dominant S1 to bilateral M1s. Conclusions: We demonstrated significant correlations between connectivity and motor/sensory function in PVI patients. Greater insight into understanding reorganization of brain networks following perinatal stroke may facilitate personalized rehabilitation.