Kinematic Measures of Bimanual Performance are Associated With Callosum White Matter Change in People With Chronic Stroke

To investigate the relationship between bimanual performance deficits measured using kinematics and callosum (CC) white matter changes that occur in people with chronic stroke. Cross-sectional, observational study of participants with chronic stroke and age-matched controls. Recruitment and assessments occurred at a stroke recovery research center. Behavioral assessments were performed in a controlled laboratory setting. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed at the Center for Biomedical Imaging. Individuals were enrolled and completed the study (N=39; 21 participants with chronic stroke; 18 age-matched controls with at least 2 stroke risk factors). Diffusion imaging metrics were obtained for each individual’s CC and corticospinal tract (CST), including mean kurtosis (MK) and fractional anisotropy (FA). A battery of motor assessments, including bimanual kinematics, were collected from individuals while performing bimanual reaching. Participants with stroke had lower FA and MK in the CST of the lesioned hemisphere when compared with the non-lesioned hemisphere. The FA and MK values in the CST were correlated with measures of unimanual hand performance. In addition, participants with stroke had significantly lower FA and MK in the CC than matched controls. CC diffusion metrics positively correlated with hand asymmetry and trunk displacement during bimanual performance, even when correcting for age and lesion volume. These data confirm previous studies that linked CST integrity to unimanual performance and provide new data demonstrating a link between CC integrity and both bimanual motor deficits and compensatory movements. •Fractional anisotropy and mean kurtosis in the corpus callosum are lower in participants with stroke.•Hand position symmetry and trunk displacement are disrupted during bimanual tasks.•Corpus callosum white matter correlated with bimanual kinematics in participants with stroke.