Neural mechanisms underlying loss of functional independence after stroke: EEG evidence of impaired motor-to-sensory directed connectivity on the affected side
- 1College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- 2College of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University
Abstract
Background Post-stroke reorganization of the prefrontal-sensorimotor network is critical for functional recovery, yet single connectivity metrics fail to capture its multidimensional characteristics. This exploratory study investigates network reorganization patterns and their clinical relevance to motor function and daily independence using multimodal electroencephalography (EEG) connectivity analysis, including Coherence (COH), phase lag index (PLI), and Granger causality (GC). Methods Resting-state EEG from stroke patients (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 22) was analyzed. COH, PLI, and GC metrics were computed for key regional connections involving the prefrontal (PFC), motor (MC), sensory (SC), and parietal (PC) cortices and correlated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Modified Barthel Index(MBI) scores. For stroke patients, hemispheres were classified as ipsilesional (i, affected) and contralesional (c, unaffected) based on the lesion side. Results Compared to healthy controls, stroke patients exhibited distinct reorganization patterns. Preliminary evidence suggests enhanced parietal-motor coherence (COH_cPC-cMC↑) in the unaffected hemisphere alongside reduced motor-to-prefrontal directed connectivity (GC_cMC→cPFC↓). Interhemispherically, the findings may indicate weakened information flow from the unaffected to affected motor/sensory areas (GC_cMC→iMC↓, GC_cMC→iSC↓), accompanied by reduced bilateral motor synchronization (PLI_iMC-cMC↓). Within the affected hemisphere, there was evidence of enhanced bidirectional parietal-motor phase transfer (PLI_iPC-iMC↑), whereas directed pathways were significantly impaired (GC_iMC→iSC↓, GC_iPC→iSC↓, GC_iPFC→iMC↓). Clinically, the affected motor-to-sensory pathway (GC_iMC→iSC) showed a strong negative correlation with the MBI (r = -0.61, P = 0.002), and both interhemispheric motor regulation (GC_cMC→iMC) and synchronization (PLI_iMC-cMC) were significantly correlated with functional deficits (P < 0.05). Conclusion Post-stroke networks may exhibit a “local compensation-global impairment” reorganization pattern. The affected motor-sensory pathway (GC_iMC→iSC) may be a biomarker for functional independence and thus allow for guided sensory integration-based precision rehabilitation.
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BibTeX
@article{xie2026neural,
title = {{Neural mechanisms underlying loss of functional independence after stroke: EEG evidence of impaired motor-to-sensory directed connectivity on the affected side}},
author = {Qiurong Xie and Nan Zheng and Xuan Zhang and Wuxiang Shi and Yurong Li and Xiaoling Wang},
journal = {Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12984-026-02089-1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-026-02089-1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Neural mechanisms underlying loss of functional independence after stroke: EEG evidence of impaired motor-to-sensory directed connectivity on the affected side
AU - Qiurong Xie
AU - Nan Zheng
AU - Xuan Zhang
AU - Wuxiang Shi
AU - Yurong Li
AU - Xiaoling Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
DO - 10.1186/s12984-026-02089-1
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-026-02089-1
AB - Background Post-stroke reorganization of the prefrontal-sensorimotor network is critical for functional recovery, yet single connectivity metrics fail to capture its multidimensional characteristics. This exploratory study investigates network reorganization patterns and their clinical relevance to motor function and daily independence using multimodal electroencephalography (EEG) connectivity analysis, including Coherence (COH), phase lag index (PLI), and Granger causality (GC). Methods Resting-state EEG from stroke patients (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 22) was analyzed. COH, PLI, and GC metrics were computed for key regional connections involving the prefrontal (PFC), motor (MC), sensory (SC), and parietal (PC) cortices and correlated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Modified Barthel Index(MBI) scores. For stroke patients, hemispheres were classified as ipsilesional (i, affected) and contralesional (c, unaffected) based on the lesion side. Results Compared to healthy controls, stroke patients exhibited distinct reorganization patterns. Preliminary evidence suggests enhanced parietal-motor coherence (COH_cPC-cMC↑) in the unaffected hemisphere alongside reduced motor-to-prefrontal directed connectivity (GC_cMC→cPFC↓). Interhemispherically, the findings may indicate weakened information flow from the unaffected to affected motor/sensory areas (GC_cMC→iMC↓, GC_cMC→iSC↓), accompanied by reduced bilateral motor synchronization (PLI_iMC-cMC↓). Within the affected hemisphere, there was evidence of enhanced bidirectional parietal-motor phase transfer (PLI_iPC-iMC↑), whereas directed pathways were significantly impaired (GC_iMC→iSC↓, GC_iPC→iSC↓, GC_iPFC→iMC↓). Clinically, the affected motor-to-sensory pathway (GC_iMC→iSC) showed a strong negative correlation with the MBI (r = -0.61, P = 0.002), and both interhemispheric motor regulation (GC_cMC→iMC) and synchronization (PLI_iMC-cMC) were significantly correlated with functional deficits (P < 0.05). Conclusion Post-stroke networks may exhibit a “local compensation-global impairment” reorganization pattern. The affected motor-sensory pathway (GC_iMC→iSC) may be a biomarker for functional independence and thus allow for guided sensory integration-based precision rehabilitation.
SN - 1743-0003
ER -