Background: Atlas-based voxel features have the potential to aid motor outcome prognostication after stroke, but are seldom used in clinically feasible prediction models. This could be because neuroimaging feature development is a non-standardized, complex, multistep process. This is a barrier to entry for researchers and poses issues for reproducibility and validation in a field of research where sample sizes are typically small.
Objectives: The primary aim of this review is to describe the methodologies currently used in motor outcome prediction studies using atlas-based voxel neuroimaging features. Another aim is to identify neuroanatomical regions commonly used for motor outcome prediction.
Methods: A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol was constructed and OVID Medline and Scopus databases were searched for relevant studies. The studies were then screened and details about imaging modality, image acquisition, image normalization, lesion segmentation, region of interest determination, and imaging measures were extracted.
Results: Seventeen studies were included and examined. Common limitations were a lack of detailed reporting on image acquisition and the specific brain templates used for normalization and a lack of clear reasoning behind the atlas or imaging measure selection. A wide variety of sensorimotor regions relate to motor outcomes and there is no consensus use of one single sensorimotor atlas for motor outcome prediction.
Conclusion: There is an ongoing need to validate imaging predictors and further improve methodological techniques and reporting standards in neuroimaging feature development for motor outcome prediction post-stroke.
Keywords: motor outcome; motor recovery; neuroimaging; rehabilitation; stroke.