Functional connectivity of sensorimotor network is enhanced in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy: A multimodal study using fMRI and MEG.

Objective: To assess the effects to functional connectivity (FC) caused by lesions related to spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) in children and adolescents using multiple imaging modalities.

Methods: We used resting state magnetoencephalography (MEG) envelope signals in alpha, beta and gamma ranges and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals to quantify FC between selected sensorimotor regions of interest (ROIs) in 11 adolescents with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and 24 typically developing controls. Motor performance of the hands was quantified with gross motor, fine motor and kinesthesia tests.

Results: In fMRI, participants with CP showed enhanced FC within posterior parietal regions; in MEG, they showed enhanced interhemispheric FC between sensorimotor regions and posterior parietal regions both in alpha and lower beta bands. There was a correlation between the kinesthesia score and fronto-parietal connectivity in the control population.

Conclusions: CP is associated with enhanced FC in sensorimotor network. This difference is not correlated with hand coordination performance. The effect of the lesion is likely not fully captured by temporal correlation of ROI signals.

Significance: Brain lesions can show as increased temporal correlation of activity between remote brain areas. We suggest this effect is likely separate from typical physiological correlates of functional connectivity.