%0 Journal Article
%A Volz, L. J.
%A Rehme, A. K.
%A Michely, J.
%A Nettekoven, C.
%A Eickhoff, Simon
%A Fink, G. R.
%A Grefkes, Christian
%T Shaping Early Reorganization of Neural Networks Promotes Motor Function after Stroke.
%J Cerebral cortex
%V 26
%N 6
%@ 1460-2199
%C Oxford
%I Oxford Univ. Press
%M FZJ-2016-02168
%P 2882-2894
%D 2016
%X Neural plasticity is a major factor driving cortical reorganization after stroke. We here tested whether repetitively enhancing motor cortex plasticity by means of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) prior to physiotherapy might promote recovery of function early after stroke. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to elucidate underlying neural mechanisms. Twenty-six hospitalized, first-ever stroke patients (time since stroke: 1-16 days) with hand motor deficits were enrolled in a sham-controlled design and pseudo-randomized into 2 groups. iTBS was administered prior to physiotherapy on 5 consecutive days either over ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1-stimulation group) or parieto-occipital vertex (control-stimulation group). Hand motor function, cortical excitability, and resting-state fMRI were assessed 1 day prior to the first stimulation and 1 day after the last stimulation. Recovery of grip strength was significantly stronger in the M1-stimulation compared to the control-stimulation group. Higher levels of motor network connectivity were associated with better motor outcome. Consistently, control-stimulated patients featured a decrease in intra- and interhemispheric connectivity of the motor network, which was absent in the M1-stimulation group. Hence, adding iTBS to prime physiotherapy in recovering stroke patients seems to interfere with motor network degradation, possibly reflecting alleviation of post-stroke diaschisis.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%$ pmid:26980614
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000377917500041
%R 10.1093/cercor/bhw034
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/807750