Territory-Related Functional Connectivity Changes Associated with Verbal Memory Decline in Patients with Unilateral Asymptomatic Internal Carotid Stenosis

Verbal memory decline is a common complaint of patients with severe asymptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery (aICS). Previous publications explored the associations between verbal memory decline and altered functional connectivity (FC) after aICS. Patients with severe aICS may show reduced perfusion in the ipsilateral territory and redistribution of cerebral blood flow to compensate for the deficient regions, including expansion of the posterior and contralateral ICA territories via the circle of Willis. However, aICS-related FC changes in anterior and posterior territories and the impact of the sides of stenosis were less explored. This study aims to investigate the altered FC in anterior and posterior circulation territories of patients with left or right unilateral aICS and its association with verbal memory decline.