Beyond the Motor Cortex: Functional Network Mapping Redefines Cerebral Palsy Prediction After Neonatal Stroke

Highlights

• Traditional lesion-based analysis often fails to fully predict cerebral palsy (CP) outcomes; lesion network mapping (LNM) provides a more comprehensive predictive framework.
• The development of CP following neonatal arterial ischemic stroke is significantly associated with functional disruptions in regions far beyond the primary motor cortex.
• Key extramotor regions identified in the CP-related network include the thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and the insula.
• Integrating routine clinical imaging with normative large-scale connectome data from the Developing Human Connectome Project enhances prognostic accuracy.

Introduction: The Clinical Challenge of Neonatal Stroke