Abstract WP63: Somatosensory Evoked Potentials As A Measure Of Sensorimotor Impairment In Hemiparetic Stroke

• Published in: Stroke (1970) 2023-02, Vol.54 (Suppl_1), p.AWP63-AWP63
• Main Authors: Williamson, Jordan, Sikora, William A, Lepak, Louis V, Cheema, Carolyn, James, Shirley, Sidorov, Evgeny V, Yang, Yuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/str.54.suppl_1.WP63

IntroductionStroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that the cortical motor system might be reorganized following a stroke, with an increasing recruitment of the contralesional hemisphere. The control of movement requires sensory feedback; however, it is unknown if there is a similar hemispheric shift in the somatosensory system to adapt to the change in the motor system and if this is related to the impairment. HypothesisCortical somatosensory reorganization occurs post stroke and is related to sensory and motor impairment. MethodsThis proof-of-concept study assessed early phase cortical somatosensory processing in chronic hemiparetic stroke participants (n=9) using electroencephalograph (EEG). Components P50 and N100 of sensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were extracted and compared to motor and sensory impairments. ResultsPearson correlation analysis found that the amplitude of SEP component P50 is negatively correlated with Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (FM-UE) Motor Score in stroke (R=-0.630, P=0.047) and the amplitude of SEP component N100 is positively correlated with the Erasmus modifications to the Nottingham Sensory Assessment (EmNSA) (R=0.705, p=0.025). ConclusionThis information potentially helps predict the severity of motor and sensory impairments based on SEP measures. This is clinically significant, because if an assessment for sensorimotor impairments could be done from a “pure” sensory perspective using SEP, this would improve assessments in those with severe impairments or after an acute stroke in those with limited functional movements. Additionally, it may provide clinicians with enhanced sensory feedback-based interventions for rehabilitation post stroke.