title: White matter integrity of premotor-motor connections is associated with motor output in chronic stroke patients.
abstract: Corticocortical functional interactions between the primary motor cortex (M1) and secondary motor areas, such as the dorsal (PMd) and ventral (PMv) premotor cortices and the supplementary motor area (SMA) are relevant for residual motor output after subcortical stroke. We hypothesized that the microstructural integrity of the underlying white matter tracts also plays a role in preserved motor output. Using diffusion-tensor imaging we aimed at (i) reconstructing individual probable intrahemispheric connections between M1 and the three secondary areas (PMd, PMv, SMA) and (ii) examining the extent to which the tract-related microstructural integrity correlates with residual motor output. The microstructural integrity of the tract connecting ipsilesional M1 and PMd was significantly associated with motor output (R = 0.78, P = 0.02). The present results support the view that ipsilesional secondary motor areas such as the PMd might support M1 via corticocortical connections to generate motor output after stroke.
authors.affiliation: BrainImaging and NeuroStimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: BrainImaging and NeuroStimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Braass
authors.affiliation: BrainImaging and NeuroStimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany ; Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, Zürich 8091, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liuzzi
authors.affiliation: BrainImaging and NeuroStimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoerniss
authors.affiliation: BrainImaging and NeuroStimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.affiliation: BrainImaging and NeuroStimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerloff
authors.affiliation: BrainImaging and NeuroStimulation (BINS) Laboratory, Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedhelm C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Cortical; Diffusion; Fractional anisotropy; Recovery; Structural