Impact of injury duration on a sensorimotor functional network in complete spinal cord injury

J Neurosci Res, 2022 · DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25069 · Published: January 1, 2022

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how brain connectivity changes after a complete spinal cord injury (SCI). It examines functional connectivity (FC) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The study compares brain connectivity in healthy individuals to that of SCI patients at different stages post-injury (early stage vs. late stage). The findings suggest that brain connectivity changes dynamically after SCI, and rehabilitation strategies may need to be adjusted over time to optimize recovery.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

27 complete SCI patients and 30 healthy controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
SCI patients showed increased functional connectivity (FC) between the sensorimotor cortex and cognitive, visual, and auditory cortices compared to healthy controls.
2
The functional connectivity (FC) between the motor cortex and cognitive cortex increased over time after the spinal cord injury.
3
Functional connectivity (FC) between the sensory cortex and visual cortex increased within 6 months after SCI, while FC between the sensory cortex and auditory cortex increased beyond 6 months.

Research Summary

This study investigated the increased sensorimotor network connectivity in complete SCI using resting-state fMRI. SCI subjects showed an increase in FC between the sensorimotor cortex and cognitive, visual, and auditory cortices compared to HCs. The brain FC changed at different injury stages after SCI.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Rehabilitation might be adapted over time after SCI, considering the dynamic changes in brain functional connectivity.

Cognitive Training

Additional cognition training should be considered in SCI rehabilitation, such as motor image, motor relearning, and motor memory.

VR-Augmented Neurorehabilitation

Virtual reality (VR)-augmented neurorehabilitation interventions might be helpful for motor recovery, which could provide multimodal sensory stimuli and environment feedback for the subjects, leading to brain reorganization.

Study Limitations

1
The study focused on the increased FC in SCI subjects compared to HCs; decreased FC might be explored in the subsequent studies.
2
The study only compared SCI subgroups with different injury durations; future longitudinal studies are necessary to explore the time course of functional reorganization in SCI subjects.
3
The current study focused on the FC reorganization pattern in the brain; multimodal imaging studies are necessary in the future.

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