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Abstract #2963

Functional Connectivity Among Resting State Networks Increases After Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in Children with Brain Injury

Maria A. Rocca1, Sandra Strazzer2, Anna Turconi2, Paola Valsasina1, Martina Absinta1, Elena Beretta2, Monica Cazzagon3, Andrea Falini4, Massimo Filippi1

1Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, MI, Italy; 2Department of Neurology, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, La Nostra Famiglia, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy; 3Department of Neurology, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, La Nostra Famiglia, Pasian di Prato, UD, Italy; 4Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, MI, Italy


From 14 children with acquired or congenital brain injury and 10 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, we acquired resting state (RS) functional MRI data before constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) (baseline), at the end of CIMT (week 10) and after 6 months. Functional network connectivity was used to assess significant interactions among resting state networks at baseline, and changes of association between networks at the two follow-up evaluations. Changes of resting state connectivity among sensory, motor and cognitive networks were detected in pediatric patients with chronic hemiplegia after CIMT. Such changes correlated with clinical improvement following treatment.