Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2018, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (9): 1637-1642.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.235304

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Patterns of cortical reorganization in facial synkinesis: a task functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Yin Wang2, 3, Wei-Wei Wang2, Xu-Yun Hua4, Han-Qiu Liu2, Wei Ding1   

  1. 1 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,
    Shanghai, China 2 Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
    3 Shanghai Institution of Medical Imaging, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
    4 Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
  • Received:2018-06-02 Online:2018-09-15 Published:2018-09-15
  • Contact: Wei Ding, M.D. or Han-Qiu Liu, drdingwei@icloud.com or drliuhanqiu@163.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the Youth Researcher Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, No. 20144Y0095.

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Abstract:

Facial synkinesis, a sequela of peripheral facial nerve palsy, is characterized by simultaneous involuntary facial movement during a voluntary desired one. Maladaptive cortical plasticity might be involved in the dysfunction of facial muscles. This cohort study investigated the cortical functional alterations in patients with unilateral facial synkinesis, using the task functional magnetic resonance imaging. Facial motor tasks, including blinking and smiling, were performed by 16 patients (aged 30.6 ± 4.5 years, 14 females/2 males) and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (aged 29.1 ± 4.2 years, 19 females/5 males). Results demonstrated that activation in the cortico-facial motor representation area was lower during tasks in patients with facial synkinesis compared with healthy controls. Facial movements on either side performed by patients caused more intensive activation of the supplementary motor area on the contralateral side of the affected face, than those on the unaffected side. Our results revealed that there was cortical reorganization in the primary sensorimotor area and the supplementary motor area. This study was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR1800014630).