Department of Rehabilitation, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Renmin Rd. Furong District, Changsha 410011, Hunan China.
Department of Rehabilitation, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Renmin Rd. Furong District, Changsha 410011, Hunan China.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2023 Sep;32(9):107280. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2023.107280. Epub 2023 Jul 28.
This study attempted to evaluate the functional connectivity (FC) in relevant cortex areas during three memory tasks using the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) method to expound the neural mechanisms in individuals with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).
Short-term memory and visuospatial abilities were assessed using the clock drawing test, digit span test, and Corsi Block-tapping tests with simultaneous fNIRS. The oxygenated hemoglobin concentration signals were recorded from the bilateral motor sense cortex (LMS/RMS) and prefrontal lobe (LPFT/PFT/RPFT) of 19 subjects with cognitive impairment (PSCI group), 27 stroke subjects (STR group) and 26 healthy subjects (HC group).
MMSE scores were positively correlated with the clock drawing test and digit span test scores but not with Corsi Block-tapping scores. During each test, functional connectivity between the bilateral MS (LMS/RMS) was highest within each group, but the functional connectivity between motor sense cortex and frontal lobe was lowest. PSCI group showed decreased FC between bilateral motor sense cortex (P < 0.05) and between motor sense cortex and frontal lobe (P > 0.05) during clock drawing test and Corsi Block-tapping test while decreased FC between each region of interest during digit span test with no significant difference. Functional connectivity levels were closely related to MMSE scores.
Decreased functional connectivity level may be a marker of impaired cognitive function in post-stroke cognitive impairment. The fNIRS-based functional connectivity provides a non-invasive method to recognize cognitive impairment post-stroke. Functional connectivity changes may help to further understand the neural mechanisms of cognitive impairment post stroke.
本研究采用功能近红外光谱（fNIRS）技术，试图通过三种记忆任务评估相关皮层区域的功能连接（FC），以阐述脑卒中后认知障碍（PSCI）个体的神经机制。
采用划钟试验、数字跨度试验和连续序列试验（Corsi 方块试验）评估短期记忆和视空间能力，并同步进行 fNIRS。记录 19 名认知障碍患者（PSCI 组）、27 名脑卒中患者（STR 组）和 26 名健康受试者（HC 组）双侧运动感觉皮层（LMS/RMS）和前额叶（LPFT/PFT/RPFT）的氧合血红蛋白浓度信号。
MMSE 评分与划钟试验和数字跨度试验得分呈正相关，与 Corsi 方块试验得分无关。在每个测试中，各组内双侧 MS（LMS/RMS）之间的功能连接最强，但运动感觉皮层与前额叶之间的功能连接最低。PSCI 组在划钟试验和 Corsi 方块试验中双侧运动感觉皮层之间（P<0.05）和运动感觉皮层与前额叶之间（P>0.05）的 FC 降低，而在数字跨度试验中各感兴趣区之间的 FC 降低，但无统计学差异。功能连接水平与 MMSE 评分密切相关。
功能连接水平降低可能是脑卒中后认知障碍认知功能障碍的标志物。基于 fNIRS 的功能连接提供了一种识别脑卒中后认知障碍的非侵入性方法。功能连接的变化可能有助于进一步了解脑卒中后认知障碍的神经机制。
