Objective      To investigate the damage of cerebral white matter in stroke patients

and explore the correlation between the white matter damage and the motor dysfunction.       Methods      Seventeen stroke patients and twenty-one healthy controls were recruited to collect the cerebral diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. Fractional anisotropy (FA)

axial diffusivity (λ

1

) and radial diffusivity (λ

23

) were analyzed for differences between the 2 groups using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). The regions of interest (ROI) were defined based on Johns Hopki

ns white matter partition atlas. The correlations between the parameters of ROI and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scores of the stroke patients were also analyzed.       Results      Compared with the healthy controls

the FA of white matter fiber bundles was reduced in the ipsilesional corticospinal tract

inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus

uncinate fasciculus

anterior thalamic radiation

superior longitudinal fasciculus

forceps minor and bilateral forceps major of the stroke patients (P0.005). The λ

1

values of white matter fiber bundles were reduced in the ipsilesional corticospinal tract (P0.05). The λ

23

values of white matter fiber bundles were increased in the ipsilesional corticospinal tract

inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus

uncinate fasciculus

anterior thalamic radiation

forceps minor

bilateral forceps major and superior longitudinal fasciculus (P0.01). A positive correlation was found between λ

1

value of ipsilesional corticospinal tract and FMA score of stroke patients (P0.05).       Conclusion      Abnormal white matter structure is found in the stroke patients

and the value of λ

1

in the ipsilesional corticospinal tract can reflect the motor dysfunction.