Journal Article

FZJ-2025-05732

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Evoked slow oscillations and dynamic network reorganization after stroke

Tscherpel, C. ; Mustin, M. ; Rosjat, N. ; Mais, L.-T. ; Ziemann, U. ; Fink, G. R.FZJ* ; Daun, S.FZJ* ; Grefkes, C. (Corresponding author)

2025
Oxford University Press [Oxford]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcaf391  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2025-05732

Abstract: A focal ischemic lesion is thought to alter neuronal activity beyond the area of structural damage, thereby interfering with the whole network architecture. Here, we used a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography in conjunction with dynamic connectivity analyses and graph theory to study alterations and reorganization of cortical connectivity in a cohort of 41 patients longitudinally after stroke. We found a link between an increase in low-frequency coupling in the delta band and alterations in neural information processing in the first weeks after stroke and their relevance for motor outcome >3 months later. We demonstrated that stroke enhances slow activity and delta coupling between frontocentral and parietal regions. In addition, we observed a loss of the physiological network architecture with a decrease in small-worldness and modularity in the delta frequency, implying that a focal ischemic lesion interferes with both cortical information integration and functional segregation within the first weeks after stroke. While we found a link between bifrontal coupling in the alpha spectrum and the degree of the motor deficit in the early post-acute phase, the amount of small-worldness disruption early after stroke indicated the motor outcome in the follow-up session. In contrast, recovery of motor function and cortical reorganization after >3 months post-stroke were paralleled by the normalization of increased low-frequency coupling and a reinstatement of the complex network structure featuring a modular and small-world topology.Keywords: diaschisis; modularity; neuroplasticity; randomness; small-worldness.

Note: G.R.F., C.G. and C.T. are funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)—Project-ID 431549029—SFB 1451 (projects B03, B06, C05 and Z03).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften (INM-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 5252 - Brain Dysfunction and Plasticity (POF4-525) (POF4-525)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)431549029 - SFB 1451: Schlüsselmechanismen normaler und krankheitsbedingt gestörter motorischer Kontrolle (431549029) (431549029)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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