Association between functional network connectivity, retina structure and microvasculature, and visual performance in patients after thalamic stroke: An exploratory multi‐modality study

Background and objective Neuro‐ophthalmologic symptoms and retinal changes have been increasingly observed following thalamic stroke, and there is mounting evidence indicating distinct alterations occurring in the vision‐related functional network. However, the intrinsic correlations between these changes are not yet fully understood. Our objective was to explore the altered patterns of functional network connectivity and retina parameters, and their correlations with visual performance in patients with thalamic stroke. Methods We utilized resting‐state functional MRI to obtain multi‐modular functional connectivity (FC), and optical coherence tomography‐angiography to measure various retina parameters, such as the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), superficial vascular complex (SVC), and deep vascular complex. Visual acuity (VA) was used as a metric for visual performance. Results We included 46 patients with first‐ever unilateral thalamic stroke (mean age 59.74 ± 10.02 years, 33 males). Significant associations were found between FC of attention‐to‐default mode and SVC, RNFL, and GCIPL, as well as between FC of attention‐to‐visual and RNFL (p