fMRI-Based Static and Dynamic Functional Connectivity Analysis for Post-Stroke Motor Dysfunction Patient: A Review

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has emerged as a prevalent tool for investigating motor deficits and rehabilitation in the context of stroke. Particularly, the exploration of functional connectivity (FC) through resting-state fMRI has the potential to unveil the neural connectivity mechanisms underlying post-stroke motor impairment and recovery. Despite the significance of this approach, there exists a gap in the literature where a comprehensive review dedicated to post-stroke functional connectivity analysis is lacking. In this paper, we undertake an extensive review of both static functional connectivity network analysis (SFC) and dynamic functional connectivity network analysis (DFC) in the context of post-stroke motor dysfunction. Our primary goal is to present comprehensive methodological insights and the latest research findings pertaining to motor function recovery after stroke. We commence by providing a succinct overview of SFC and DFC methods, elucidating the preprocessing and denoising techniques essential to these analyses. Subsequently, we summarize the application of two methods in stroke disease, mainly focusing on the extracted insight into post-stroke brain dysfunction and rehabilitation. Our review indicates a prevalence of SFC as the method of choice for post-stroke functional connectivity investigations. Specifically, SFC studies reveal a reduction in FC between motor areas due to stroke lesions, with increased FC correlating positively with functional recovery. Nevertheless, the DFC for post-stroke analysis has only begun to unveil its potential due to its ability in temporal dynamics. In summary, this review paper presents a thorough understanding of post-stroke functional connectivity analysis and its implications for the study of motor function recovery, offering valuable insights for future research and clinical applications.