Alterations of Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity and Degree Centrality in Cervical Dystonia: A Resting-State fMRI Study

Abstract

Background. Cervical dystonia (CD) is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary head and neck movements and postures. Reports on microstructural and functional abnormalities in multiple brain regions not limited to the basal ganglia have been increasing in patients with CD. However, the neural bases of CD are unclear. This study is aimed at identifying cerebral functional abnormalities in CD by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods. Using rs-fMRI data, voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and degree centrality were used to compare the alterations of the rs-functional connectivity (FC) between 19 patients with CD and 21 healthy controls. Regions showing abnormal FCs from two measurements were the regions of interest for correlation analyses. Results. Compared with healthy controls, patients with CD exhibited significantly decreased VMHC in the supplementary motor area (SMA), precuneus (PCu)/postcentral gyrus, and superior medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). Significantly increased degree centrality in the right PCu and decreased degree centrality in the right lentiform nucleus and left ventral MPFC were observed in the patient group compared with the control group. Further correlation analyses showed that the VMHC values in the SMA were negatively correlated with dystonia severity. Conclusion. Local abnormalities and interhemispheric interaction deficits in the sensorimotor network (SMA, postcentral gyrus, and PCu), default mode network (MPFC and PCu), and basal ganglia may be the key characteristics in the pathogenesis mechanism of CD.

Abnormal regional homogeneity and its relationship with symptom severity in cervical dystonia: a rest state fMRI study

“…Therefore, we proposed that the decreased ReHo value of the right superior MPFC possibly influence this region's function and result in losing top-down regulation, which is suggested as the foundation in the pathology of changes of cognitive, emotional processing, and behavior in CD. In our other study, we have found patients with CD exhibit significantly decreased VMHC in superior MPFC [18]. Besides, changes in the cognitive processing of movement have been previously observed in idiopathic dystonia patients [15,23].…”

Abnormal Regional Homogeneity and Its Relationship with Symptom Severity in Cervical Dystonia: A Rest State fMRI Study

“…Therefore, we proposed that the decreased ReHo value of the right superior MPFC possibly in uence this region's function and result in losing top-down regulation, which is suggested as the foundation in the pathophysiology of changes of cognitive, emotional processing, and behavior in CD. In our other study, we have found patients with CD exhibit signi cantly decreased VMHC in superior MPFC (Jiang et al, 2019). Besides, changes in the cognitive processing of movement have been previously observed in idiopathic dystonia patients (Hebb et al, 2014;Little et al, 2013).…”

Abnormal Regional Spontaneous Brain Activity and Its Indirect Effect on Spasm Ratings in Patients With Hemifacial Spasm

“…The increased fALFF and ReHo indicated an enhanced spontaneous neuronal activity and local synchronization in these regions. As is well known, PCC/precuneus is part of the brain regions that support executive control of movement initiation, which has been proved in other movement disorders ( Jiang et al, 2019 ; Spay et al, 2019 ). A previous rs-fMRI study on humans and macaque monkeys also indicated that the anterior precuneus is part of the sensorimotor processing zone as it was functionally connected with the superior parietal cortex, paracentral lobule, and motor cortex ( Margulies et al, 2009 ).…”