To investigate changes of functional activation areas of the cerebral cortex and the connectivity of motor cortex networks （MCNs） in stroke patients during the recovery, five patients with the infarct in their left ...To investigate changes of functional activation areas of the cerebral cortex and the connectivity of motor cortex networks （MCNs） in stroke patients during the recovery, five patients with the infarct in their left hemispheres are recruited. Functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） is performed in the second, fourth, eighth, and sixteenth weeks after the stroke. Images are analyzed using the professional software SPM5 to obtain the bilateral activation of the motor cortex in left and right handgrip tests. MCN data are extracted from the active areas, and the structural and functional characteristic parameters are computed to indicate the connectivity of the network. Results show that the ipsilesional hemisphere recruits more areas with less active extent during the handgrip test, compared with the contralesional hemisphere. MCN shows a higher overall degree of statistical independence and more statistical dependence among motor areas with the gradual recovery. It can help physicians understand the recovery mechanism.展开更多
The sensation of pain is critical for the survival of animals and humans. However, the brain mechanisms underlying pain perception remain largely unknown. How does the brain decode the pain-evoked activity into a part...The sensation of pain is critical for the survival of animals and humans. However, the brain mechanisms underlying pain perception remain largely unknown. How does the brain decode the pain-evoked activity into a particular sensory experience？ Over the past decade, attempts have been made to answer these questions by employing electrophysiological, functional brain imaging, and behavioral approaches, and some basic properties of pain formation have been revealed. Researchers have gradually recognized that there exists a distributed neural network that participates in the transmission and processing of pain information. These studies will further guide the development of more effective treatment for many disorders such as chronic pain.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30670543)~~
文摘To investigate changes of functional activation areas of the cerebral cortex and the connectivity of motor cortex networks （MCNs） in stroke patients during the recovery, five patients with the infarct in their left hemispheres are recruited. Functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） is performed in the second, fourth, eighth, and sixteenth weeks after the stroke. Images are analyzed using the professional software SPM5 to obtain the bilateral activation of the motor cortex in left and right handgrip tests. MCN data are extracted from the active areas, and the structural and functional characteristic parameters are computed to indicate the connectivity of the network. Results show that the ipsilesional hemisphere recruits more areas with less active extent during the handgrip test, compared with the contralesional hemisphere. MCN shows a higher overall degree of statistical independence and more statistical dependence among motor areas with the gradual recovery. It can help physicians understand the recovery mechanism.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30370461,30570577, 30770688, and 30700223)the 100 Talented Plan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the 863 project (No.2006AA02Z431)the grant for young scientist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. 07CX051005)
文摘The sensation of pain is critical for the survival of animals and humans. However, the brain mechanisms underlying pain perception remain largely unknown. How does the brain decode the pain-evoked activity into a particular sensory experience？ Over the past decade, attempts have been made to answer these questions by employing electrophysiological, functional brain imaging, and behavioral approaches, and some basic properties of pain formation have been revealed. Researchers have gradually recognized that there exists a distributed neural network that participates in the transmission and processing of pain information. These studies will further guide the development of more effective treatment for many disorders such as chronic pain.
