Evolution of resting-state network efficiency after stroke: an individual confrontation with the norm.

Motivation: To provide personalized rehabilitation after stroke, we need to identify brain biomarkers that inform us about what differs from a normal organization to target rehabilitation accordingly. Goal(s): Evaluate the potential of a norm-based functional brain network organization analysis in the individual follow-up post-stroke. Approach: Compare fMRI resting-state network functioning of 21 people post-stroke before and after rehabilitation with the norm, based on 569 controls, while taking into account the motor deficit. Results: Using a norm, we showed that targeted motor rehabilitation improves the motor network efficiency for recovering patients, whereas executive network efficiency remained suboptimal, potentially negatively interfering with motor recovery. Impact: Comparing people with a norm, not only post-stroke but also with other central neurological deficits, facilitates personalized medicine, for instance by providing targets for non-invasive brain stimulation, or by identifying processes that require specific training, like attention direction or proprioception.