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Demirayak P, Karli Oguz K, Ustun FS, Urgen BM, Topac Y, Gilani I, Kansu T, Saygi S, Ozcelik T, Boyaci H, Doerschner K. Cortical connectivity in the face of congenital structural changes-A case of homozygous LAMC3 mutation. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e2241. [PMID: 34124859 PMCID: PMC8413815 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The homozygous LAMC3 gene mutation is associated with severe bilateral smoothening and thickening of the lateral occipital cortex . Despite this and further significant changes in gray matter structure, a patient harboring this mutation exhibited a range of remarkably intact perceptual abilities . One possible explanation of this perceptual sparing could be that the white matter structural integrity and functional connectivity in relevant pathways remained intact. To test this idea, we used diffusion tensor and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate functional connectivity in resting-state networks in major structural pathways involved in object perception and visual attention and corresponding microstructural integrity in a patient with homozygous LAMC3 mutation and sex, age, education, and socioeconomically matched healthy control group. White matter microstructural integrity results indicated widespread disruptions in both intra- and interhemispheric structural connections except inferior longitudinal fasciculus. With a few exceptions, the functional connectivity between the patient's adjacent gray matter regions of major white matter tracts of interest was conserved. In addition, functional localizers for face, object, and place areas showed similar results with a representative control, providing an explanation for the patient's intact face, place, and object recognition abilities. To generalize this finding, we also compared functional connectivity between early visual areas and face, place, and object category-selective areas, and we found that the functional connectivity of the patient was not different from the control group. Overall, our results provided complementary information about the effects of LAMC3 gene mutation on the human brain including intact temporo-occipital structural and functional connectivity that are compatible with preserved perceptual abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Demirayak
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kader Karli Oguz
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Fatma Seyhun Ustun
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Buse Merve Urgen
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Neuroscience Program, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yasemin Topac
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Irtiza Gilani
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tulay Kansu
- Department of Neurology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Serap Saygi
- Department of Neurology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tayfun Ozcelik
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Huseyin Boyaci
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Neuroscience Program, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Psychology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Psychology, JL Giessen University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Katja Doerschner
- A.S. Brain Research Center and National Magnetic Resonance Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Neuroscience Program, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Psychology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Psychology, JL Giessen University, Giessen, Germany
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