Disrupted Pallido-Thalamo-Cortical Functional Connectivity in Chronic Disorders of Consciousness

Brain Sciences

Jean-Jacques Lemaire¹  Anna Sontheimer¹  Bénédicte Pontier¹  Carine Chassain¹  Jérôme Coste¹  Béatrice Claise² 

[1] Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Clermont Auvergne Institut National Polytechnique, Institut Pascal, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France;Service de Radiologie, Unité de Neuroradiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France;

关键词: cerebral networks;    disorders of consciousness;    functional resting-state connectivity;    mesocircuit model;    pallidum;    thalamus;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci11030356

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC) encompass unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and a minimally conscious state. Their anatomo-functional correlates are not clearly defined yet, although impairments of functional cortical networks have been reported, as well as the implication of the thalamus and deep brain structures. However, the pallidal functional connectivity with the thalamus and the cortical networks has not been studied so far. Using resting-state functional MRI, we conducted a functional connectivity study between the pallidum, the thalamus and the cortical networks in 13 patients with chronic DOC and 19 healthy subjects. We observed in chronic DOC patients that the thalami were no longer connected to the cortical networks, nor to the pallidums. Concerning the functional connectivity of pallidums, we reported an abolition of the negative correlation with the default mode network, and of the positive correlation with the salience network. The disrupted functional connectivity observed in chronic DOC patients between subcortical structures and cortical networks could be related to the mesocircuit model. A better understanding of the DOC underlying physiopathology could provide food for thought for future therapeutic proposals.

【 授权许可】

Unknown