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

Brittany Young, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Zack Nigogosyan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Leo Walton, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Veena A. Nair PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

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

Mitch Tyler, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

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

Kristin Caldera, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Justin Sattin, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Justin Williams, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

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

Few studies have combined diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fMRI in a multi-modal approach to characterize and track stroke recovery. This study examines changes in the structural integrity of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) and in corticomotor activity during movement of the impaired hand in stroke patients receiving therapy using a novel Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) device and investigates whether these changes relate to motor functional recovery.

Nine stroke patients (ages 48-68, 6M) with persistent upper extremity impairment were given up to 15 sessions of interventional rehabilitation therapy of the affected hand using BCI with integrated tongue and functional electrical stimulations. Anatomical, DTI, and fMRI images were collected pre-, mid-, and post-therapy using a GE 3T MRI scanner. Functional images were acquired as patients performed unilateral finger tapping of the affected hand. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were calculated for each PLIC, as were counts of active voxels in the motor cortex. Motor function was tested at each scan session using Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS).

PLIC-FA values were significantly lower in the ipsilesional vs. contralesional hemisphere, and a bilateral pattern of corticomotor activity was observed during fMRI. Ipsilesional PLIC-FA negatively correlated with ipsilesional corticomotor activity. ARAT and SIS Hand Function scores correlated with PLIC-FA but not corticomotor activity. Pre-therapy FA also correlated with post-therapy ARAT and SIS Hand Function. Differences and correlations p<0.05.

Preserved integrity of the ipsilesional PLIC may contribute to better motor outcomes, demanding less cortical activity within the ipsilesional motor cortex. Furthermore, PLIC-FA may be helpful in tracking and predicting motor functional recovery in stroke patients receiving BCI intervention.

Characterizing the relationship among DTI, fMRI, and behavioral measures in stroke patients is key in developing new biomarkers to predict and track motor recovery.

Song, J, Young, B, Nigogosyan, Z, Walton, L, Nair, V, Grogan, S, Tyler, M, Farrar-Edwards, D, Caldera, K, Sattin, J, Williams, J, Prabhakaran, V, Characterizing Relationships of DTI, fMRI, and Motor Recovery in Stroke Rehabilitation Using Brain-Computer Interface Technology.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14014498.html