Contrasting Topological Changes between Recoveries in Stroke Patients

Abstract

Stroke is a common brain disease that impairs a person's motor ability. We applied a graph analysis to functional brain networks in two stroke patients who showed good and poor recovery in motor function, respectively. Brain functional networks were extracted from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data by calculating correlation maps of time series. In comparison with the patient showing poor recovery, the patient exhibiting good recovery showed persistent increases in the small-worldness and the global efficiency of brain functional networks following stroke. Good recovery from stroke is thought to be based on efficient modulation of the functional connectivity of the brain, which is revealed by topological changes in brain functional networks.