title: Resting state functional connectivity alterations in primary lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Resting state functional connectivity of the sensorimotor and extramotor brain networks was studied in 24 patients with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) relative to 26 healthy controls. The relationships of RS functional connectivity with patient clinical and cognitive status and white matter tract damage (i.e., corticospinal tracts, corpus callosum, and superior longitudinal fasciculus) were investigated. Compared with controls, PLS patients showed an increased functional connectivity within the sensorimotor, frontal, and left frontoparietal networks spanning the pre- and postcentral, medial and dorsal frontal, insular, and superior temporal regions. Patients with more severe physical disability and a more rapid rate of disease progression had increased sensorimotor connectivity values. The increased functional connectivity within the frontal network was associated with executive dysfunction. In addition, higher functional connectivity correlated with greater structural damage to network-specific white matter tracts. This study shows clinically meaningful increased resting state functional connectivity in PLS.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agosta
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canu
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inuggi
authors.affiliation: 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiò
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nilo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silani
authors.affiliation: 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, CERMAC, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: m.filippi@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Diffusion tensor MRI tractography; Functional connectivity; Primary lateral sclerosis; Resting state functional MRI; Sensorimotor network