Stroke and Neurodegeneration Induce Different Connectivity Aberrations in the Insula. Issue 9 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: García-Cordero, Indira; Sedeño, Lucas; Fraiman, Daniel; Craiem, Damian; de la Fuente, Laura Alethia; Salamone, Paula; Serrano, Cecilia; Sposato, Luciano; Manes, Facundo; Ibañez, Agustín
• Is Part Of: Stroke. Volume 46:Issue 9(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: cerebral cortex -- dementia -- magnetic resonance imaging -- stroke; Cerebrovascular disease -- Periodicals; Cerebral circulation -- Periodicals; 616.81
• DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.009598
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0039-2499

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Purpose—: Stroke and neurodegeneration cause significant brain damage and cognitive impairment, especially if the insular cortex is compromised. This study explores for the first time whether these 2 causes differentially alter connectivity patterns in the insular cortex. Methods—: Resting state–functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from patients with insular stroke, patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, and healthy controls. Data from the 3 groups were assessed through a correlation function analysis. Specifically, we compared decreases in connectivity as a function of voxel Euclidean distance within the insular cortex. Results—: Relative to controls, patients with stroke showed faster connectivity decays as a function of distance (hypoconnectivity). In contrast, the behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia group exhibited significant hyperconnectivity between neighboring voxels. Both patient groups evinced global hypoconnectivity. No between-group differences were observed in a volumetrically and functionally comparable region without ischemia or neurodegeneration. Conclusions—: Functional insular cortex connectivity is affected differently by cerebral ischemia and neurodegeneration, possibly because of differences in the cause-specific pathophysiological mechanisms of each disease. These findings have important clinical and theoretical implications. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.