Resting-state Functional Connectivity After Occipital Stroke

Background Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) reflects spontaneous activation of cortical networks. After stroke, these networks reorganize, both due to structural lesion and reorganization of functional connectivity (FC). Objective We studied FC in chronic phase occipital stroke patients with homonymous visual field defects before and after repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS). Methods This spin-off study, embedded in the randomized, sham-controlled REVIS trial, comprised 16 chronic occipital stroke patients with visual field defect and 12 healthy control subjects. The patients underwent rsfMRI at baseline, after two weeks of rtACS or sham treatment, and after two months of treatment-free follow-up, whereas the control subjects were measured once. We used a multivariate regression connectivity model to determine mutual prediction accuracy between 74 cortical regions of interest. Additionally, the model parameters were included into a graph to analyze average path length, centrality eigenvector, centrality degree, and clustering of the network. The patients and controls at baseline and the two treatment groups were compared with multilevel modeling. Results Before treatment, the patients and controls had similar whole-network prediction accuracy and network parameters, whereas centrality eigenvector differed in perilesional regions, indicating local modification in connectivity. In line with behavioral results, neither prediction accuracy nor any network parameter changed systematically as a result of rtACS rehabilitation compared to sham. Conclusions Whole-network FC showed no difference between occipital stroke patients and healthy population, congruent with the peripheral location of the visual network in relation to the high-density cortical core. rtACS treatment in the given setting did not affect FC.

Automated summary

In this study, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) was used to study functional connectivity (FC) in chronic occipital stroke patients with homonymous visual field defects before and after receiving repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS). The results showed no significant differences in whole-network FC between occipital stroke patients and healthy controls, and rtACS treatment did not affect FC in this setting.