title: Neural correlates of motor impairment during motor imagery and motor execution in sub-cortical stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims at identifying the neural substrates for motor execution (ME) and motor imagery (MI) in patients after stroke and their correlations with functional outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 chronic stroke patients with left sub-cortical lesions and 10 unimpaired subjects were recruited. Their cortical processes were studied when they were asked to perform ME and MI unimanually using their unaffected and affected wrists during fMRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From correlation results, the supplementary motor area (SMA), its activation volume and congruence in functional neuroanatomy associated with ME and MI using affected wrist positively correlated with motor performance. During ME of the affected wrist, the precuneus, its activation volume and congruence in functional neuroanatomy between patient and unimpaired groups showed a negative correlation, while, in non-primary motor areas, the hemispheric balance of premotor cortex and the congruence in functional neuroanatomy of contralesional inferior parietal lobule between patient and unimpaired groups showed a positive correlation with motor performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The non-primary motor-related areas were revealed to play a critical role in determining motor outcomes after left sub-cortical stroke, which was demonstrated in the stroke patients. In particular, SMA might be the key neural substrate associated with motor recovery.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , PR China.
authors.forename: Wan-Wa
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Suk-Tak
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kwok-Wing
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Kai-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014953:Wrist / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*