Warren Lo1, Xiangrui Li2, Kristen Hoskinson3, Kelly McNally4, Melissa Chung4, JoEllen Lee5, Ji Wang6, Zhong-Lin Lu7, Keith Yeates8. 1. Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. 2. Department of Psychology, The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. 3. Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, and the Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. 4. Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, and Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. 5. Departments of Pediatrics, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. 6. Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. 7. Center for Neural Science and Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY. 8. Departments of Psychology, Pediatrics, and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
AIM: This pilot study explored whether childhood stroke impairs performance on theory of mind (ToM) tasks and whether ToM task performance correlates with resting state connectivity in brain regions linked with social cognition. METHOD: We performed a case-control study of 10 children with stroke and 10 age- and gender-matched controls. They completed 2 ToM tasks, and resting state connectivity was measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Children with stroke performed worse than controls on conative ToM tasks. Resting state connectivity in the central executive network was significantly higher and connectivity between right and left inferior parietal lobules was significantly decreased in children with stroke. Resting state activity and ToM performance were not significantly correlated. INTERPRETATION: Childhood stroke results in poorer performance on specific ToM tasks. Stroke is associated with changes in resting state connectivity in networks linked with social cognition including ToM. Although the basis for these changes in connectivity is not well understood, these results may provide preliminary insights into potential mechanisms affecting social cognition after stroke. The findings suggest that further study of the effect of childhood stroke on network connectivity may yield insights as to how stroke affects cognitive functions in children.
AIM: This pilot study explored whether childhood stroke impairs performance on theory of mind (ToM) tasks and whether ToM task performance correlates with resting state connectivity in brain regions linked with social cognition. METHOD: We performed a case-control study of 10 children with stroke and 10 age- and gender-matched controls. They completed 2 ToM tasks, and resting state connectivity was measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS:Children with stroke performed worse than controls on conative ToM tasks. Resting state connectivity in the central executive network was significantly higher and connectivity between right and left inferior parietal lobules was significantly decreased in children with stroke. Resting state activity and ToM performance were not significantly correlated. INTERPRETATION: Childhood stroke results in poorer performance on specific ToM tasks. Stroke is associated with changes in resting state connectivity in networks linked with social cognition including ToM. Although the basis for these changes in connectivity is not well understood, these results may provide preliminary insights into potential mechanisms affecting social cognition after stroke. The findings suggest that further study of the effect of childhood stroke on network connectivity may yield insights as to how stroke affects cognitive functions in children.