title: The Default Mode Network Connectivity Predicts Cognitive Recovery in Severe Acquired Brain Injured Patients: A Longitudinal Study.
abstract: To study the functional connectivity in patients with severe acquired brain injury is very challenging for their high level of disability because of a prolonged period of coma, extended lesions, and several cognitive and behavioral disorders. In this article, we investigated in these patients the default mode network and somatomotor connectivity changes at rest longitudinally, in the subacute and late phase after brain injury. The aim of the study is to characterize such connectivity patterns and relate the observed changes to clinical and neuropsychological outcomes of these patients after a period of intensive neurorehabilitation. Our findings show within the default mode network a disruption of connectivity of medial pre-frontal regions and a significant change of amplitude of internal connections. Notably, strongest changes in functional connectivity significantly correlated to consistent clinical and cognitive recovery. This evidence seems to indicate that the reorganization of the Default Mode Network may represent a valid biomarker for the cognitive recovery in patients with severe acquired brain injury.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falletta Caravasso
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome, Italy .|2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy .
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Pasquale
authors.affiliation: 3 Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciurli
authors.affiliation: 3 Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catani
authors.affiliation: 3 Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sabatini
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology; D063132:Connectome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: cognitive recovery; functional connectivity; magnetic resonance imaging; neurorehabilitation; severe acquired brain injury