Changes in electroencephalography(EEG)phase synchronization and the effects on upper limb function in post-stroke aphasia patients
Objective To investigate the effect of electroencephalography(EEG)phase synchronization on upper limb function in post-stroke aphasia patients.Methods A total of 33 stroke patients admitted to Neurological Rehabilitation Center,Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital affiliated to Tongji University from October 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively included.The general data of the patients were collected,including gender,age,course of disease(onset to enrollment time),type of stroke(cerebral hemorrhage,cerebral infarction)and function scores of hemiplegic upper limbs.All patients underwent the Boston diagnostic aphasia test(BDAE)within 1 week after admission,and the aphasia quotient(AQ)test was performed for those with BADE<5,and the AQ<93.8 score was defined as aphasia.AQ ≥ 93.8 score was non-aphasia,and the hemiplegic upper limb function was evaluated by using the function test for the hemiplegic upper extremity-Hong Kong Version(FTHUE-HK)classification(FTHUE-HK1-7 grades were assigned as 1-7 points,respectively),and the EEG data of all patients were collected.The EEG phase synchronization index(PSI)of 5 frequency bands(δ,θ,α,β,and y)in the language-motor regions(C3F7,C3T5),motor-sensory regions(C3P3)and motor regions(C3C4)were calculated and compared between groups.Spearman's correlation was used to analyze the correlation between PSI and FTHUE-HK scores in post-stroke aphasia group.Results A total of 33 patients were included in this study.There were 1 7 patients in the post-stroke aphasia group,including 11 males and 6 females,age range 50-75 years,mean ages(63±12)years and an average AQ of(22.5±18.2)score.There were 16 patients in the non-aphasia group after stroke,including 12 males and 4 females,age range 47-74 years,mean age(58±11)years and an average AQ of(99.1±0.3)score.(1)There were no significant differences in gender,age,course of disease,and stroke type between the two groups(all P>0.05).The FTHUE-HK score in the post-stroke aphasia group was lower than that in the non-aphasia group([1.6±1.1]score vs.[3.0±1.2]score),and the difference between two groups was statistically significant(P=0.003).(2)The C3F7-PSI in the post-stroke aphasia group was higher in the δ and θ frequency bands than those in the non-aphasia group(δ:t=3.869,P=0.001;θ:t=3.409,P=0.002);the C3T5-PSI in the post-stroke aphasia group was higher than those in the θ and δ bands(θ:t=2.376,P=0.024;δ:t=2.787,P=0.009).The C3P3-PSI in the post-stroke aphasia group was higher in the δ and θ bands than those in the non-aphasia group(δ:t=2.761,P=0.010;θ:t=2.834,P=0.008);the C3C4-PSI in the post-stroke aphasia group was significantly higher in the α,θ,and δ bands than those in the non-aphasia group,and the differences between two groups were statistically significant(α:t=2.426,P=0.021;θ:t=3.263,P=0.003;δ:t=2.851,P=0.008).(3)The C3F7-PSI was moderately negative correlated with FTHUE-HK scores in the δ and θ bands of patients in the post-stroke aphasia group(δ:r=-0.540,P=0.041;θ:r=-0.425,P=0.035).The C3P3-PSI in the post-stroke aphasia group was positively correlated with the FTHUE-HK scores in the γ band(r=0.519,P=0.033).In the post-stroke aphasia group,C3C4-PSI was negatively correlated with FTHUE-HK scores in the δ band(r=-0.510,P=0.036).The FTHUE-HK score was not correlated with the PSI of frequency bands in the remaining language-motor regions,motor-sensory regions and motor regions(all P>0.05).Conclusions Patients with post-stroke aphasia have worse upper limb dysfunction than those without post-stroke aphasia.The EEG phase synchronicity of left frontoparietal lobe δ and θ of patients with post-stroke aphasia was higher than those of patients without post-stroke aphasia and correlated with the FTHUE-HK score of upper limb function.The results need to be further verified.
Post-stroke aphasiaElectroencephalographyPhase synchronizationUpper extremity function