Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review

Abstract Background Variability in motor recovery after stroke represents a major challenge in its understanding and management. While functional MRI has been used to unravel interactions between stroke motor function and clinical outcome, fMRI alone cannot clarify any relation between brain activat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zakaria Belkacemi, Liesjet E. H. van Dokkum, Andon Tchechmedjiev, Matthieu Lepetit-Coiffe, Denis Mottet, Emmanuelle Le Bars
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01611-1
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850269122532737024
author Zakaria Belkacemi
Liesjet E. H. van Dokkum
Andon Tchechmedjiev
Matthieu Lepetit-Coiffe
Denis Mottet
Emmanuelle Le Bars
author_facet Zakaria Belkacemi
Liesjet E. H. van Dokkum
Andon Tchechmedjiev
Matthieu Lepetit-Coiffe
Denis Mottet
Emmanuelle Le Bars
author_sort Zakaria Belkacemi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Variability in motor recovery after stroke represents a major challenge in its understanding and management. While functional MRI has been used to unravel interactions between stroke motor function and clinical outcome, fMRI alone cannot clarify any relation between brain activation and movement characteristics. Objectives We aimed to identify fMRI and kinematic coupling approaches and to evaluate their potential contribution to the understanding of motor function post-stroke. Method A systematic literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines on studies using fMRI and kinematics in post-stroke individuals. We assessed the internal, external, statistical, and technological validity of each study. Data extraction included study design and analysis procedures used to couple brain activity with movement characteristics. Results Of the 404 studies found, 23 were included in the final review. The overall study quality was moderate (0.6/1). Thirteen studies used kinematic information either parallel to the fMRI results, or as a real-time input to external devices, for instance to provide feedback to the patient. Ten studies performed a statistical analysis between movement and brain activity by either using kinematics as variables during group or individual level regression or correlation. This permitted establishing links between movement characteristics and brain activity, unraveling cortico-kinematic relationships. For instance, increased activity in the ipsilesional Premotor Cortex was related to less smooth movements, whereas trunk compensation was expressed by increased activity in the contralesional Primary Motor Cortex. Conclusion Our review suggests that the coupling of fMRI and kinematics may provide valuable insight into cortico-kinematic relationships. The optimization and standardization of both data measurement and treatment procedures may help the field to move forward and to fully use the potential of multimodal cortico-kinematic integration to unravel the complexity of post-stroke motor function and recovery.
format Article
id doaj-art-e483767488b94bce93efab999318c995
institution OA Journals
issn 1743-0003
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
spelling doaj-art-e483767488b94bce93efab999318c9952025-08-20T01:53:15ZengBMCJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation1743-00032025-04-0122112110.1186/s12984-025-01611-1Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic reviewZakaria Belkacemi0Liesjet E. H. van Dokkum1Andon Tchechmedjiev2Matthieu Lepetit-Coiffe3Denis Mottet4Emmanuelle Le Bars5Siemens Healthcare SASMontpellier University HospitalEuromov Digital Health in Motion, University of Montpellier, IMT Mines AlèsSiemens Healthcare SASEuromov Digital Health in Motion, University of Montpellier, IMT Mines AlèsMontpellier University HospitalAbstract Background Variability in motor recovery after stroke represents a major challenge in its understanding and management. While functional MRI has been used to unravel interactions between stroke motor function and clinical outcome, fMRI alone cannot clarify any relation between brain activation and movement characteristics. Objectives We aimed to identify fMRI and kinematic coupling approaches and to evaluate their potential contribution to the understanding of motor function post-stroke. Method A systematic literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines on studies using fMRI and kinematics in post-stroke individuals. We assessed the internal, external, statistical, and technological validity of each study. Data extraction included study design and analysis procedures used to couple brain activity with movement characteristics. Results Of the 404 studies found, 23 were included in the final review. The overall study quality was moderate (0.6/1). Thirteen studies used kinematic information either parallel to the fMRI results, or as a real-time input to external devices, for instance to provide feedback to the patient. Ten studies performed a statistical analysis between movement and brain activity by either using kinematics as variables during group or individual level regression or correlation. This permitted establishing links between movement characteristics and brain activity, unraveling cortico-kinematic relationships. For instance, increased activity in the ipsilesional Premotor Cortex was related to less smooth movements, whereas trunk compensation was expressed by increased activity in the contralesional Primary Motor Cortex. Conclusion Our review suggests that the coupling of fMRI and kinematics may provide valuable insight into cortico-kinematic relationships. The optimization and standardization of both data measurement and treatment procedures may help the field to move forward and to fully use the potential of multimodal cortico-kinematic integration to unravel the complexity of post-stroke motor function and recovery.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01611-1fMRIMotor functionMotion captureKinematicsStrokeMultimodal
spellingShingle Zakaria Belkacemi
Liesjet E. H. van Dokkum
Andon Tchechmedjiev
Matthieu Lepetit-Coiffe
Denis Mottet
Emmanuelle Le Bars
Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
fMRI
Motor function
Motion capture
Kinematics
Stroke
Multimodal
title Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review
title_full Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review
title_fullStr Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review
title_short Can motion capture improve task-based fMRI studies of motor function post-stroke? A systematic review
title_sort can motion capture improve task based fmri studies of motor function post stroke a systematic review
topic fMRI
Motor function
Motion capture
Kinematics
Stroke
Multimodal
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01611-1
work_keys_str_mv AT zakariabelkacemi canmotioncaptureimprovetaskbasedfmristudiesofmotorfunctionpoststrokeasystematicreview
AT liesjetehvandokkum canmotioncaptureimprovetaskbasedfmristudiesofmotorfunctionpoststrokeasystematicreview
AT andontchechmedjiev canmotioncaptureimprovetaskbasedfmristudiesofmotorfunctionpoststrokeasystematicreview
AT matthieulepetitcoiffe canmotioncaptureimprovetaskbasedfmristudiesofmotorfunctionpoststrokeasystematicreview
AT denismottet canmotioncaptureimprovetaskbasedfmristudiesofmotorfunctionpoststrokeasystematicreview
AT emmanuellelebars canmotioncaptureimprovetaskbasedfmristudiesofmotorfunctionpoststrokeasystematicreview