DTI Findings Correlated with Neurocognitive Impairments in Basal Ganglia Stroke: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

AbstractsObjective: Subcortical lesion involving basal ganglia can cause a wide range of behavioral and cognitive alterations largely attributed to disconnection of subcortical fibers; however, the underlying neural correlates of cognitive dysfunction based on the integrity of the white matter fiber has not yet been explored in stroke patients. Methods:The correlations among cognitive function and diffusion metrics of each subcortical fiber were investigated in nine basal ganglia stroke patients by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in our study. Results:Patient's general cognitive and verbal working memory function correlated well with the integrity of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), nonverbal attention with the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), SLF, and frontostriatal (FS) fibers. On the other hand, nonverbal long-term memory correlated well with the integrity of the right ILF and FS fibers. Conclusions:Neurocognitive characteristics of patients with basal ganglia stroke seem to reflect the integrity of subcortical fiber connectivity.