title: Neurophysiologic predictors of motor function in stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Understanding the neural mechanisms of stroke recovery is of paramount importance for neurorehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this purpose, we analyzed several TMS and EEG variables and their association with motor recovery. Thirty-five subjects with chronic stroke were recruited. The neurophysiological examination included assessments by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), intra- and inter-hemispheric EEG coherence in different frequency bands (e.g. alpha (8-13 Hz)) as determined by quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). Motor function was measured by Fugl-Meyer (FM). Multiple univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify the predictors for FM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses, showed a significant interaction effect of motor threshold (MT) in the lesioned hemisphere and beta coherence in the unlesioned hemisphere. This interaction suggests that higher beta activity in the unlesioned hemisphere strengthens the negative association between MT and FM scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that MT in the lesioned hemisphere is the strongest predictors of motor recovery after stroke. Moreover, cortical activity in the unlesioned hemisphere measured by qEEG provides additional information, specifying the association between MT and FM scores. Therefore, complementary application of EEG and TMS can help constitute a better model of the lesioned and the unlesioned hemispheres that supports the importance of bihemispheric activity in recovery.
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital, Brazil.|Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doruk
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anghinah
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morales-Quezada
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital, Brazil.|Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fregni
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital, Brazil.
authors.forename: Linamara Rizzo
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Battistella
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods
keywords: Stroke; cerebrovascular disease; cortical excitability; motor recovery; plasticity; quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG); transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)