Lesion‐network mapping for post‐stroke cognitive impairment

Background To overcome difficulty obtaining functional neuroimaging data directly from acute stroke patients, researchers have developed a new mapping approach called the “indirect lesion-network mapping.” This uses priori network information obtained normative samples to account for brain areas functionally connected patients’ local lesions. method has successfully mapped some peculiar symptoms, such as aphasia and post-stroke pain. However, it remains unclear whether this can produce sensible results cognitive impairment of community samples. Method A total 1,431 patients were enrolled two university hospitals. They underwent comprehensive neuropsychological test within one year post-stroke. We used Verbal Learning Test examine memory performance trail-making test-A digit symbol coding task assess speed processing. classified into groups— cognitively-impaired (CI) (< -2.0 standard deviation) cognitively-unimpaired (CU) (> -1.0 SD)—based on performance. calculated lesion-affected networks based lesions combined with Human Connectome Project-Aging cohort, n = 687. Then, we compared lesion maps versus without impairment. Result 348 showed in task, while 247 demonstrated speed-of-processing task. For both tasks, conventional produced highly similar between CI CU groups—both groups localized major hubs large-scale networks, mid-cingulate insular cortices. became more when contrasted groups. example, was including left medial anterior temporal, inferior dorsolateral frontal cortices, whereas occipital temporal Conclusion suggest that additional analysis steps mapping, contrast analysis, help improve specificity sensitivity targeting stroke-induced