title: Functional connectivity of motor cortical network in patients with brachial plexus avulsion injury after contralateral cervical nerve transfer: a resting-state fMRI study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to assess the functional connectivity of the motor cortical network in patients with brachial plexus avulsion injury (BPAI) after contralateral C7 nerve transfer, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with total brachial plexus root avulsion underwent RS-fMRI after contralateral C7 nerve transfer. Seventeen healthy volunteers were also included in this fMRI study as controls. The hand motor seed regions were defined as region of interests in the bilateral hemispheres. The seed-based functional connectivity was calculated in all the subjects. Differences in functional connectivity of the motor cortical network between patients and healthy controls were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inter-hemispheric functional connectivity of the M1 areas was increased in patients with BPAI compared with the controls. The inter-hemispheric functional connectivity between the supplementary motor areas was reduced bilaterally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The resting-state inter-hemispheric functional connectivity of the bilateral M1 areas is altered in patients after contralateral C7 nerve transfer, suggesting a functional reorganization of cerebral cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, The 4th Medical College of Peking University, 31 Xinjiekou E Rd, Xicheng Qu, Beijing, 100035, China. imaging2008@sina.com.
authors.forename: Aihong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, The 4th Medical College of Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shufeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, The 4th Medical College of Peking University, 31 Xinjiekou E Rd, Xicheng Qu, Beijing, 100035, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, The 4th Medical College of Peking University, 31 Xinjiekou E Rd, Xicheng Qu, Beijing, 100035, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, The 4th Medical College of Peking University, 31 Xinjiekou E Rd, Xicheng Qu, Beijing, 100035, China.
authors.forename: Rongjie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, The 4th Medical College of Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yunhao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, The 4th Medical College of Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000601:surgery*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000637:transplantation*
keywords: Brachial plexus avulsion injury; Cerebral plasticity; Contralateral C7 nerve transfer; Functional connectivity; Resting state