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Thalamo-cortical connectivity in children born preterm mapped using probabilistic magnetic resonance tractography.
- Source :
-
NeuroImage [Neuroimage] 2007 Feb 01; Vol. 34 (3), pp. 896-904. Date of Electronic Publication: 2006 Dec 15. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of studying white matter tracts and connections between the thalamus and the cortex in 2-year-old infants who were born preterm by probabilistic magnetic resonance (MR) tractography. Using this approach, we were able to visualize and quantify connectivity distributions in a number of white matter tracts, including the corticospinal tracts, optic radiations, fibers of the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and to map the distribution within thalamus of fibers connecting to specific cortical regions. In eleven infants with no MR evidence of focal cerebral lesions and appropriate neurodevelopment as shown by general quotient (GQ) scores above 100, we mapped cortical connections to the thalamus that appeared similar to those reported in adults. However, in a proof-of-principle experiment, we examined one further child with marked white matter abnormalities and found that the volume and pattern of thalamo-cortical connections were severely disrupted. This technique promises to be a useful tool for assessing connectivity in the developing brain and in infants with lesions.
- Subjects :
- Computer Simulation
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Models, Anatomic
Models, Neurological
Models, Statistical
Neural Pathways cytology
Cerebral Cortex cytology
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted methods
Imaging, Three-Dimensional methods
Infant, Premature
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ultrastructure
Thalamus cytology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1053-8119
- Volume :
- 34
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- NeuroImage
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17174575
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.09.036