Task-specificity in focal dystonia is shaped by aberrant diversity of a functional network kernel.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Task-specific focal dystonia selectively affects the motor control during skilled and highly learned behaviors. Recent data suggest the role of neural network abnormalities in the development of the pathophysiological dystonic cascade.

Methods

We used resting-state functional MRI and analytic techniques rooted in network science and graph theory to examine the formation of abnormal subnetwork of highly influential brain regions, the functional network kernel, and its influence on aberrant dystonic connectivity specific to affected body region and skilled motor behavior.

Results

We found abnormal embedding of sensorimotor cortex and prefrontal thalamus in dystonic network kernel as a hallmark of task-specific focal dystonia. Dependent on the affected body re

SUBMITTER: Fuertinger S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6309584 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature