In vivo probabilistic atlas of white matter tracts of the human subthalamic area combining track density imaging and optimized diffusion tractography
AbstractThe human subthalamic area is a region of high anatomical complexity, tightly packed with tiny fiber bundles. Some of them, including the pallidothalamic, cerebello-thalamic, and mammillothalamic tracts, are relevant targets in functional neurosurgery for various brain diseases. Diffusion-weighted imaging-based tractography has been suggested as a useful tool to map white matter pathways in the human brain in vivo and non-invasively, though the reconstruction of these specific fiber bundles is challenging due to their small dimensions and complex anatomy. To the best of our knowledge, a population-based, in vivo pr...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 17, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
A comparative study of the superior longitudinal fasciculus subdivisions between neonates and young adults
AbstractThe superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) is a complex associative tract comprising three distinct subdivisions in the frontoparietal cortex, each of which has its own anatomical connectivity and functional roles. However, many studies on white matter development, hampered by limitations of data quality and tractography methods, treated the SLF as a single entity. The exact anatomical trajectory and developmental status of each sub-bundle of the human SLF in neonates remain poorly understood. Here, we compared the morphological and microstructural characteristics of each branch of the SLF at two ages using diffusi...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 17, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
The critical role of the orbitofrontal cortex for regret in an economic decision-making task
In this study, we employed a typical monetary decision-making task, a modified ‘Wheel of Fortune gamble’ paradigm, to investigate decision-making behavior and its neural mechanism. We combined voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and task-evoked functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses to explore the neural substrates of regret trait. VBM analyses revealed that indiv idual Regret Scale Score was negatively associated with the gray-matter volume (GMV) in the frontal and temporal areas, including the bilateral OFC. These results indicate that individuals with high regret trait have smaller GMV in these areas. Moreo...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 16, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Astrocyte-derived lactate/NADH alters methamphetamine-induced memory consolidation and retrieval by regulating neuronal synaptic plasticity in the dorsal hippocampus
AbstractDrug memory is associated with drug-taking experience and environmental cues, which mainly contribute to addiction. Recent studies report that glycogenolysis-derived lactate from astrocyte transport to neurons is necessary for long-term potentiation and memory formation instead of its function as an energy substrate. However, the role of astrocyte-neuron lactate transfer in neuronal plasticity and methamphetamine (METH)-induced addiction memory consolidation and retrieval, especially the underlying mechanisms, are not clear. C57BL/6 J mice trained for METH-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) were stereotax...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 16, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
CO2 exposure enhances Fos expression in hypothalamic neurons in rats during the light and dark phases of the diurnal cycle
AbstractOrexinergic (OX) neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), perifornical area (PFA) and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) play a role in the hypercapnic ventilatory response, presumably through direct inputs to central pattern generator sites and/or through interactions with other chemosensitive regions. OX neurons can produce and release orexins, excitatory neuropeptides involved in many functions, including physiological responses to changes in CO2/pH. Thus, in the present study, we tested the hypothesis that different nuclei (LH, PFA and DMH) where the orexinergic neurons are located, show distinct activation by CO2...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 15, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Cortical connectivity gradients and local timescales during cognitive states are modulated by cognitive loads
In conclusion, current study provides novel evidence for load-modulated cortical connectivity gradients and local timescales during cognitive states, which could contribute to better understanding about cognitive load theory and brain disorders with cognitive dysfunction. (Source: Anatomy and Embryology)
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 13, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Central precuneus lesions are associated with impaired executive function
AbstractThe functional roles of the precuneus are unclear. Focal precuneus lesions are rare, making it difficult to identify robust brain –behavior relationships. Distinct functional subdivisions of the precuneus have been proposed based on unique connectivity profiles. This includes an association of the anterior division with bodily awareness, the central region with complex cognition, and the posterior division with visual proces sing. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that the central precuneus is preferentially involved (compared to the other sectors of the precuneus) in executive function, as estimated from perfo...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 10, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Home language and literacy environment and its relationship to socioeconomic status and white matter structure in infancy
AbstractThe home language and literacy environment (HLLE) in infancy has been associated with subsequent pre-literacy skill development and HLLE at preschool-age has been shown to correlate with white matter organization in tracts that subserve pre-reading and reading skills. Furthermore, childhood socioeconomic status (SES) has been linked with both HLLE and white matter organization. It is important to understand whether the relationships between environmental factors such as HLLE and SES and white matter organization can be detected as early as infancy, as this period is characterized by rapid brain development that may...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 9, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Motor awareness: a model based on neurological syndromes
AbstractMotor awareness is a complex, multifaceted construct involving the awareness of both (i) one ’s motor state while executing a movement or remaining still and (ii) one’s motor abilities. The analysis of neurological syndromes associated with motor disorders suggests the existence of various different components which are, however, integrated into a model of motor awareness. These compone nts are: (i) motor intention, namely, a conscious desire to perform an action; (ii) motor monitoring and error recognition, that is, the capacity to check the execution of the action and identify motor errors; and (iii) a genera...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 6, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
The connectivity-based parcellation of the angular gyrus: fiber dissection and MR tractography study
According to this study, superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) II and middle longitudinal fasciculus (MdLF) are associated with sAG; the anterior commissure (AC), optic radiation (OR) with iAG; the arcuate fasciculus (AF), inferior frontooccipital fasciculus (IFOF), and tapetum (Tp) with both parts. In cortical parcellation of AG based on STS, sAG and iAG were associated with different fiber tracts. Although it has been shown in previous studies that there are functionally different subunits with AG parcellation, here, for the first time, other functions of the subunits have been revealed with cadaveric dissection and tra...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 3, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Indirect structural disconnection-symptom mapping
AbstractIn vivo tracking of white matter fibres catalysed a modern perspective on the pivotal role of brain connectome disruption in neuropsychological deficits. However, the examination of white matter integrity in neurological patients by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging bears conceptual limitations and is not widely applicable, as it requires imaging-compatible patients and resources beyond the capabilities of many researchers. The indirect estimation of structural disconnection offers an elegant and economical alternative. For this approach, a patient ’s structural lesion information and normative connec...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - September 1, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Functional coupling between frontoparietal control subnetworks bridges the default and dorsal attention networks
AbstractThe frontoparietal control network (FPCN) plays a central role in tuning connectivity between brain networks to achieve integrated cognitive processes. It has been proposed that two subnetworks within the FPCN separately regulate two antagonistic networks: the FPCNa is connected to the default network (DN) that deals with internally oriented introspective processes, whereas the FPCNb is connected to the dorsal attention network (DAN) that deals with externally oriented perceptual attention. However, cooperation between the DN and DAN induced by distinct task demands has not been well-studied. Here, we characterized...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - August 26, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Egomotion-related visual areas respond to goal-directed movements
AbstractIntegration of proprioceptive signals from the various effectors with visual feedback of self-motion from the retina is necessary for whole-body movement and locomotion. Here, we tested whether the human visual motion areas involved in processing optic flow signals simulating self-motion are also activated by goal-directed movements (as saccades or pointing) performed with different effectors (eye, hand, and foot), suggesting a role in visually guiding movements through the external environment. To achieve this aim, we used a combined approach of task-evoked activity and effective connectivity (PsychoPhysiological ...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - August 26, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Dynamic and stationary brain connectivity during movie watching as revealed by functional MRI
We examined dynamic and stationary connectivity when the participants watched four different movie clips. We calculated point-by-point multiplication between two regional time series to estimate the time-resolved dynamic connectivity, and estimated the inter-individual consistency of the dynamic connectivity time series. Widespread consistent dynamic connectivity was observed for each movie clip, which also showed differences between the clips. For example, a cartoon movie clip, Wall-E, showed more consistent of dynamic connectivity with the posterior cingulate cortex and supramarginal gyrus, while a court drama clip, A Fe...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - August 26, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
Correction to: Ketogenic diet impairs neurological development of neonatal rats and affects biochemical composition of maternal brains: evidence of functional recovery in pups
(Source: Anatomy and Embryology)
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - August 26, 2022 Category: Anatomy Source Type: research
