Brain reorganization: altered functional connectivity in reward network after stroke.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Motivation is key to functional recovery after stroke and is partly driven by reward pathway activation. Impaired reward-related striatal activation during motor learning may hinder rehabilitation that relies on motivational feedback. Even without direct damage to reward areas, stroke may disrupt reward network connectivity. What drives this reward processing network alterations is not known. This study examines how stroke alters reward-related functional connectivity during motor learning with monetary reward.

Methods

Subacute stroke patients (n = 28) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 18) performed an arc-pointing motor learning task with the wrist and received performance-dependent monetary rewards during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A gener

SUBMITTER: Martinez YE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12685550 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature