1000 Section - Investigating the Alterations of Brain Structure and Function in Patients with Subcortical Stroke and Treatment Mechanism of Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robot Based on Multimodal MRI

Objectives : This study used multimodal MRI to investigate post-stroke brain alterations in patients with subacute subcortical stroke and to explore the treatment mechanisms of a lower-limb rehabilitation robot.

Design: Patients with right or left hemisphere stroke and healthy controls underwent MRI scans. Analyses covered gray matter volume, static/dynamic brain activity, functional connectivity, and network topology. A separate intervention study randomized patients to receive either robot-assisted or conventional training, comparing changes in brain function and clinical scores after two weeks.

Results: Bilateral middle frontal gyri gray matter volume reduction was a common structural impairment. Abnormalities in functional activity and connectivity were found in regions supporting cognitive, emotional, and motor functions, correlating with clinical deficits. Network abnormalities differed between hemispheres. Robot training enhanced motor recovery, linked to modulated activity in the right precuneus and altered connectivity in visuomotor pathways.

Conclusion: Multimodal MRI reveals post-stroke reorganization. Robot-assisted therapy aids motor recovery by modulating brain function, suggesting the right precuneus as a potential neuromodulation target.