Measuring neuroplasticity associated with cerebral palsy rehabilitation: An MRI based power analysis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.01.010
• Publication Date: 2017-01-25T00:41:22Z
• Authors: Lee B. Reid; Alex M. Pagnozzi; Simona Fiori; Roslyn N. Boyd; Nicholas Dowson; Stephen E. Rose
• Keywords: Corticospinal tract; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Abstract Researchers in the field of child neurology are increasingly looking to supplement clinical trials motor rehabilitation with neuroimaging order better understand relationship between behavioural training, brain changes, and improvements. Randomised controlled typically accompanied by sample size calculations detect improvements but, despite large cost neuroimaging, not equivalent for concurrently acquired imaging measures changes response intervention. To aid this regard, a power analysis was conducted two that may be indexed trial rehabilitative therapy cerebral palsy: cortical thickness impaired primary sensorimotor cortex, fractional anisotropy impaired, delineated corticospinal tract. Power measuring assessed both region‐of‐interest‐seeded fMRI‐seeded diffusion tractography. Taking into account practical limitations, as well data loss due image‐processing issues, estimated required participant numbers were 101, 128 59 thickness, region‐of‐interest‐based tractography, respectively. These adjusted study attrition. Although these out reach many trials, several options available improve statistical power, including careful preparation participants scanning using mock simulators, consideration image processing options, enrolment homogeneous cohort possible. This work suggests smaller moderate sized studies give genuine harmonising protocols groups allow pooling data.