The aim of this study was to determine common structural and functional networks associated with asymmetric step length after unilateral ischemic stroke.
METHODS:
Thirty-nine chronic stroke patients were divided into two groups, based on the presence or absence of asymmetric step length. In each group, each lesion was mapped onto a brain magnetic resonance image. The structural and functional networks of brain regions connected to each lesion were identified using a public diffusion tensor and resting state function magnetic resonance image dataset. To identify brain regions associated with asymmetric step length, we conducted voxel-wise independent sample t-tests for structural and function lesion network maps.
RESULTS:
At least 85% of lesions showed functional network overlap in the bilateral frontal lobe. Functional connectivity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the contralesional hemisphere was significantly decreased in group 1 compared to that in group 2.
CONCLUSIONS:
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may have an important role in compensating for an asymmetric step length after a unilateral stroke.
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