Investigation of the impacts of traumatic medular injury on the neuroanatomic structure of sensoriomotor cortical areas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1679-9836.v100i6p570-577Keywords:
Spinal cord injury, Neuroplasticity, Cortical changes, ParaplegiaAbstract
Loss of motor control is one of the most debilitating consequences of spinal cord injury. Partial or complete disruption of the sensory ascending and motor descending pathways render the individual unable to walk and perform activities in a functional manner. The occurrence of spontaneous sensorimotor cortical reorganization immediately after injury and continuously over time may occur in specific areas, as well as in the entire cerebral cortex, as evidenced in previous studies. Understanding the complex interaction between anatomical changes, functionality, and cortical reorganization induced by spinal cord injury, as well as defining its effects, is crucial for the evaluation of rehabilitation therapies and consequent improvement in the subject’s quality of life. In this study, magnetic resonance images were obtained to explore morphological changes in the Gray Matter (GM) and White Matter (WM) in the cerebral cortex of individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury. Two groups of volunteers were recruited for this research (spinal cord injury - Experimental Group; and non-injured - Control Group). Intergroup comparison was performed considering time after injury. The global evaluation of the brain did not detect changes in the total GM volume. Volumetric differences in cortical GM were found in the pre-central gyrus and lower pre-central sulcus. The change observed in the pre-central gyrus occurred in the left hemisphere, responsible for motor control of the right lower limb, compatible with the dominance of the volunteers of both groups (right-handed). The findings provide evidence that post-injury time does not have a significant influence on the overall volumetric loss. However, changes in specific regions associated with motor control of regions below the lesion were evidenced in this study.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Gabriela Dyonísio, Dhainner Rocha Dhainner, Eduardo Batista de Carvalho, Tulio Augusto Alves Macedo, Andrea de Martino Luppi, Alcimar Barbosa Soares
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