Breakdown of Sensorimotor Network Communication in Leukoaraiosis.
BACKGROUND
Leukoaraiosis (LA) patients may suffer from sensorimotor dysfunctions. The relationship between behavioral disturbances and changes in the sensorimotor network (SMN) has not been thoroughly elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the hypothesized breakdown of communication of SMN and its behavioral consequences in LA.


METHODS
Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images, resting-state functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) and behavioral data were collected from 30 LA patients and 26 healthy individuals (normal controls, NC). The subjects were grouped according to LA severity, as indicated by their FLAIR images. Group independent component analysis was applied to the fMRI data to map the functional connectivity of SMN for NC and LA patients. A whole-brain, voxel-wise analysis was employed to investigate the functional connectivity alteration of SMN in LA. The relationships between LA severity, functional connectivity alteration of the SMN and behavioral clinical symptoms were examined by correlation analysis.


RESULTS
The right cingulate motor area (rCMA), left posterior insula and left ventral premotor area showed attenuated functional connectivity in the LA patients. The extent of the attenuation was related to the severity of the disease. Furthermore, the attenuation in the rCMA was associated with worse sensorimotor integration performance.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that LA impairs sensorimotor integration by interfering with the communication or coordination of these aforementioned regions related to the SMN.
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Xia
X
Wu
Youzhi
Y
Lai
Yumei
Y
Zhang
Li
L
Yao
Xiaotong
X
Wen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049292:Leukoaraiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*