The study investigated factors affecting upper limb motor recovery after a stroke and found that structural integrity of the corticospinal tract is a key predictor. The researchers used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the condition of the corticospinal tract in 35 patients.
Scientists at the University of Tsukuba have identified two key enzymes, Sulf1 and Sulf2, critical for the normal development of the corticospinal tract (CST) in mice. The CST is a group of neuronal fibers connecting each side of the brain to the opposite side of the spinal cord, essential for voluntary motor movements.
Researchers found that primates, like humans, recover partial motor control within the first six months after a spinal cord injury, whereas rats show limited recovery. The primate-specific mechanism of recovery involves detour circuits around lesions, restoring communication between brain and spinal cords.
Researchers report recovery of injured corticospinal tracts in a patient with subfalcine herniation, suggesting neurological remodeling under rehabilitation intervention. Diffusion tensor tractography results show narrowed and then thickened tracts indicating recovery.