P.066 Hemispheric Reorganization of Functional Language Networks Following Neonatal Stroke Supports Language Outcome

• Published in: Canadian journal of neurological sciences Vol. 48; no. s3; p. S38
• Main Authors: Emami, Z, Dunkley, BT, Robertson, A, Westmacott, R, Krishnan, P, Pang, EW, Dlamini, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Adult Neurology (CNS); Language; Neurovascular, Stroke and Neurointerventional; Poster Presentations; Stroke
• ISSN: 0317-1671; 2057-0155
• DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2021.346

Background: Neonatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke (NAIS) is a common form of paediatric stroke often affecting classical language areas. The post-stroke reorganization of functional language networks may provide insight into later-emerging language deficits and may help to identify at-risk children with NAIS. Methods: A cross-sectional study of fourteen children with left (n=8; 2M; 11.1±2.2 years) or right (n=6; 3M; 12.4±4 years) middle cerebral artery (MCA) NAIS, as well as seven neurotypical children (5M; 13.4±2.7 years), was conducted. Children listened to correct/incorrect syntactic sentences while MEG was recorded, and task-related functional connectivity in the time window and frequency band of interest was determined. Language outcomes were assessed using a battery of neuropsychological tests. Results: A network-based analysis of syntactic language processing (4-7 Hz, 1.2-1.4s) revealed a dysfunctional bilateral frontal-temporal network involving language areas in patients (p=0.01). Patients with right-MCA stroke exhibited a positive correlation between left hemispheric connectivity and measures of language skill (p<0.01), resembling the neurotypical children. In left-MCA stroke patients, greater bilateral connectivity or right laterality in the language network is correlated with good outcome (p<0.05). Conclusions: Depending on the hemispheric location of stroke, certain patterns of language network reorganization may account for impairments in a bilateral frontal-temporal language subnetwork and support language outcome.