Veena A. Nair PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Jie Song MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Brittany Young, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Leo Walton, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Scott Grogan BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Justin Sattin, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dorothy Farrar-Edwards, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Justin Williams, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Vivek Prabhakaran MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

We used BCI-EEG driven functional electrical stimulation(FES) of the affected arm, and tongue stimulation(TS) to facilitate upper extremity movement following ischemic stroke. We examined changes in resting state functional connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI) in the sensorimotor network using 10 minutes eyes-closed resting fMRI. Additionally, we investigated brain-behavior correlation between rs-fcMRI and self-reported measures of hand strength as assessed by the Stroke Impact Scale(SIS).

Seven patients(mean age = 64 yrs, 4 males, 6 left hemisphere strokes, between 3 months to 23 months from stroke onset) with persistent mild to severe upper extremity impairment following ischemic stroke received intervention(2 hrs/session, maximum of 15 sessions over 5-6 weeks) using BCI-EEG driven TS and FES. rs-fcMRI images were acquired on a GE 3T MRI scanner as subjects lay in the scanner with eyes closed at 3 time-points- pre(M1), mid(M2), and immediately post intervention(M3). Rs-fcMRI involving connections among 22 regions in the sensorimotor network were examined. The SIS was administered before each scanning session.

Four out of 7 subjects showed significant increase in connection strength from M1 to M2 and from M1 to M3(individual analysis corrected for multiple comparisons, fdr method, p < .01). Five of 7 subjects showed increase in number of connections among regions in the sensorimotor network from M1 to M3. Change in connection strength from M1 to M2 moderately correlated with change in hand strength domain of the SIS(r2 = 0.42, r =.65).

BCI-EEG driven intervention targeted at the sensorimotor network leads to increase in functional connectivity strength as well as the number of connections. These data suggest that BCI-EEG driven FES and TS intervention may promote brain plasticity in sub-acute and chronic stroke patients with variable clinical characteristics.

Analysis of resting state functional connectivity in the sensorimotor network following post-stroke therapy using a brain-computer-interface (BCI)-EEG driven intervention may identify functional conne

Nair, V, Song, J, Young, B, Walton, L, Grogan, S, Sattin, J, Farrar-Edwards, D, Williams, J, Prabhakaran, V, Changes in Resting-state Functional Connectivity Following BCI-EEG Based Intervention in Sub-acute and Chronic Stroke Patients.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13044452.html