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Shift from Unilateral to Bilateral Sensory-Motor Connectivity in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke

Award Number: R01HD109157
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Shift from Unilateral to Bilateral Sensory-Motor Connectivity in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke - Abstract. The emergence of abnormal movement synergies following a stroke presents a major limitation to the recovery of independent function by constraining voluntary movements to stereotypical muscle coactivation patterns. The resulting expression of the flexion synergy limits arm/hand function, like reaching and hand opening; and has also been reported to be linked to hyperactive stretch reflexes or spasticity. Previous studies found that flexion synergy and spasticity are associated with the recruitment of contralesional descending cortico- bulbospinal pathways. However, how the somatosensory system adapts to this change in the use of motor pathways and the role of adaptive sensory feedback to the abnormal motor control of the paretic arm remain largely unknown. The ascending sensory pathways that convey somatosensation from the paretic arm project contralaterally to the primary sensory cortex in the lesioned hemisphere. Our preliminary data, however, suggests that, in individuals that express the flexion synergy and spasticity, this sensory information is subsequently transferred to the contralesional hemisphere, a process that may support the manifestation of the abnormal movement patterns in hemiparetic stroke. The overall goal of the proposed research is to examine the pathophysiology of this maladaptive hemispheric somatosensory “shift” and its relationship to the upper limb motor impairments following a hemiparetic stroke. The results will lead to a greater understanding of abnormal limb synergies and spasticity by closing the sensorimotor loop, which should provide a novel means by which to therapeutically prevent and mitigate the emergence and expression of upper limb motor impairments, following a stroke. The proposed research aims to test the following key hypotheses in our specific aims: Following a unilateral motor stroke, a hemispheric shift in somatosensory processing provides sensory feedback to support the maladaptive hemispheric shift in the motor system. This adaptive sensory shift likely not only supports the adaptive contralesional control of volitional movement that is associated with the expression of the flexion synergy (Aim 1), but also affects the transcortical loop of the stretch reflex that is related to the hyperactive stretch reflexes (or spasticity) and the increased onset delay of the long-latency stretch reflex (Aim 2). Furthermore, the hemispheric sensory shift, as a result of neuroplasticity in an injured brain, can occur in the absence of motor output; and this sensory shift can indicate the extent of motor deficits (Aim 3). By testing these hypotheses, the proposed research will improve our understanding of the role of sensory feedback in post-stroke motor impairments. This should allow for the determination of motor deficits from a new sensory perspective for more impaired individuals who have difficulty performing motor tasks. Furthermore, the knowledge gained in this study will facilitate the future development of targeted, hypothesis-driven therapeutical interventions that aim at reducing maladaptive cross-hemispheric sensory-motor connectivity during recovery thus, facilitating motor recovery in more impaired individuals.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS	506 S WRIGHT ST	URBANA	IL	61801	CHAMPAIGN	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	3	2/26/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$124,303
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	660 PARRINGTON OVAL RM 301	NORMAN	OK	73019	CLEVELAND	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	2	2/26/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1
2025	2022	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	660 PARRINGTON OVAL RM 301	NORMAN	OK	73019	CLEVELAND	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	2/26/2025	NEW	-$124,302
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $362,156 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS	506 S WRIGHT ST	URBANA	IL	61801	CHAMPAIGN	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	4	8/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$331,501
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	660 PARRINGTON OVAL RM 301	NORMAN	OK	73019	CLEVELAND	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	1/11/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$324,876
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS	506 S WRIGHT ST	URBANA	IL	61801	CHAMPAIGN	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	3	1/12/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$355,531
														Subtotal = $362,156

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $324,877 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	660 PARRINGTON OVAL RM 301	NORMAN	OK	73019	CLEVELAND	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	8/31/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$324,877
														Subtotal = $324,877

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $343,655 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	1000 ASP AVE RM 105	NORMAN	OK	73019	CLEVELAND	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	9/19/2022	NEW	$343,655
														Subtotal = $343,655

Grand Total All Awards = $1,030,688

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Shift from Unilateral to Bilateral Sensory-Motor Connectivity in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke

Award Number: R01HD109157

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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