Journal Article

FZJ-2026-04869

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Dynamic Functional Connectivity Changes in Cortical and Cortico‐Striatal Strokes in Mice

Mahani, F. S. N. (First author)FZJ* ; Diedenhofen, M. ; Green, C. ; Wiedermann, D. ; Fink, G. R.FZJ* ; Hoehn, M. ; Aswendt, M. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2026
Wiley-Blackwell Oxford

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1002/cns.71114  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-04869

Abstract: ABSTRACTAimsTo determine how lesion size and location shape longitudinal functional connectivity (FC) changes after stroke.MethodsAdult male mice underwent atlas‐based resting‐state fMRI at baseline and 1, 2, and 4 weeks after either a small photothrombotic cortical stroke (N = 25) or a larger transient cortico‐striatal MCAO stroke (N = 6). FC was quantified across 98 atlas regions, focusing on sensorimotor cortex, striatum, and thalamus, including intra‐ and inter‐hemispheric connectivity matrices and regional seed strength.ResultsCortical stroke caused widespread hyperconnectivity at Weeks 1–2, with about 90% of connections increased, followed by partial normalization by Week 4. This effect declined most strongly in the ischemic hemisphere and remained more sustained contralesionally. In contrast, cortico‐striatal stroke induced global hypoconnectivity at Week 1, with more than 90% of connections decreased, a modest and heterogeneous shift toward baseline at Week 2, and widespread decreases persisting at Week 4. A subset of sensorimotor connections showing opposite changes in the two models robustly separated groups at all post‐stroke time points. Regional lesion involvement scaled with the magnitude of baseline‐referenced FC alterations.ConclusionLesion topography drives distinct longitudinal FC trajectories after stroke and may help define network biomarkers and optimal windows for targeted interventions.Keywords: functional brain network analysis, interhemispheric connectivity, MCAO, photothrombosis, resting‐state fMRI, rodents, seed strength, sensorimotor network

Note: This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation): project ID 431549029-SFB 1451. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften (INM-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 5251 - Multilevel Brain Organization and Variability (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 2026

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