Exploring the predictive value of lesion topology on motor function outcomes in a porcine ischemic stroke model

Harnessing the maximum diagnostic potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by including stroke lesion location in relation to specific structures that are associated with particular functions will likely increase the potential to predict functional deficit type, severity, and recovery in stroke patients. This exploratory study identified damaged brain structures including the insular cortex, somatosensory cortices, temporal gyri, claustrum, and visual cortices. Stroke resulted in severely impaired spatiotemporal gait parameters, decreased voluntary movement in open field testing, and higher modified Rankin Scale scores at acute timepoints. Pearson correlation analyses at acute timepoints between standard MRI metrics and functional outcomes displayed moderate R values to functional gait outcomes. Moreover, Pearson correlation analyses showed higher R values between functional gait deficits and increased lesioning of structures associated with motor function, such as the putamen, globus pallidus, and primary somatosensory cortex. This correlation analysis approach helped identify neuroanatomical structures that are predictive of stroke outcomes potentially leading to the translation of this topological analysis approach from preclinical stroke assessment to a clinical biomarker. Read more about this study at PubMed®.