Kajo van der Marel1, Maurits P. A. van Meer1,2, Kun Wang3, Willem Maarten Otte1, Jan Willem Berkelbach van der Sprenkel2, Rick M. Dijkhuizen1
1Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 2Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 3Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Resting state fMRI analysis provides a method to measure changes in functional connectivity within various neural networks without the need of stimulating a specific functional system. These functional networks may be altered during recovery from stroke. In this study we found differences in functional connectivity pattern dependent on time and lesion size after transient stroke in rats. Loss and recovery of functional connectivity within bilateral sensorimotor network areas were indicative of functional brain reorganization after stroke.
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