1
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Nebli A, Schiffer C, Niu M, Palomero-Gallagher N, Amunts K, Dickscheid T. Generative Modelling of Cortical Receptor Distributions from Cytoarchitectonic Images in the Macaque Brain. Neuroinformatics 2024:10.1007/s12021-024-09673-7. [PMID: 38976151 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-024-09673-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter receptor densities are relevant for understanding the molecular architecture of brain regions. Quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography, has been introduced to map neurotransmitter receptor distributions of brain areas. However, it is very time and cost-intensive, which makes it challenging to obtain whole-brain distributions. At the same time, high-throughput light microscopy and 3D reconstructions have enabled high-resolution brain maps capturing measures of cell density across the whole human brain. Aiming to bridge gaps in receptor measurements for building detailed whole-brain atlases, we study the feasibility of predicting realistic neurotransmitter density distributions from cell-body stainings. Specifically, we utilize conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGANs) to predict the density distributions of the M2 receptor of acetylcholine and the kainate receptor for glutamate in the macaque monkey's primary visual (V1) and motor cortex (M1), based on light microscopic scans of cell-body stained sections. Our model is trained on corresponding patches from aligned consecutive sections that display cell-body and receptor distributions, ensuring a mapping between the two modalities. Evaluations of our cGANs, both qualitative and quantitative, show their capability to predict receptor densities from cell-body stained sections while maintaining cortical features such as laminar thickness and curvature. Our work underscores the feasibility of cross-modality image translation problems to address data gaps in multi-modal brain atlases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Nebli
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
- Helmholtz AI, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Christian Schiffer
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Helmholtz AI, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Meiqi Niu
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nicola Palomero-Gallagher
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Cécile & Oscar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katrin Amunts
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Cécile & Oscar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Timo Dickscheid
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Helmholtz AI, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Computer Science, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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2
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Stiles NRB, Choupan J, Ameri H, Patel VR, Shi Y. Visual Cortical Thickness Increases with Prolonged Artificial Vision Restoration. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.06.26.24309493. [PMID: 38978654 PMCID: PMC11230327 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.26.24309493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The Argus II retinal prosthesis restores visual perception to late blind patients. It has been shown that structural changes occur in the brain due to late-onset blindness, including cortical thinning in visual regions of the brain. Following vision restoration, it is not yet known whether these visual regions are reinvigorated and regain a normal cortical thickness or retain the diminished thickness from blindness. We evaluated the cortical thicknesses of ten Argus II Retinal Prostheses patients, ten blind patients, and thirteen sighted participants. The Argus II patients on average had a thicker left Cuneus Cortex and Lateral Occipital Cortex relative to the blind patients. The duration of the Argus II use (time since implant in active users) significantly partially correlated with thicker visual cortical regions in the left hemisphere. Furthermore, in the two case studies (scanned before and after implantation), the patient with longer device use (44.5 months) had an increase in the cortical thickness of visual regions, whereas the shorter-using patient did not (6.5 months). Finally, a third case, scanned at three time points post-implantation, showed an increase in cortical thickness in the Lateral Occipital Cortex between 43.5 and 57 months, which was maintained even after 3 years of disuse (106 months). Overall, the Argus II patients' cortical thickness was on average significantly rejuvenated in two higher visual regions and, patients using the implant for a longer duration had thicker visual regions. This research raises the possibility of structural plasticity reversing visual cortical atrophy in late-blind patients with prolonged vision restoration.
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3
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Zachlod D, Palomero-Gallagher N, Dickscheid T, Amunts K. Mapping Cytoarchitectonics and Receptor Architectonics to Understand Brain Function and Connectivity. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:471-479. [PMID: 36567226 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on cytoarchitectonics and receptor architectonics as biological correlates of function and connectivity. It introduces the 3-dimensional cytoarchitectonic probabilistic maps of cortical areas and nuclei of the Julich-Brain Atlas, available at EBRAINS, to study structure-function relationships. The maps are linked to the BigBrain as microanatomical reference model and template space. The siibra software tool suite enables programmatic access to the maps and to receptor architectonic data that are anchored to brain areas. Such cellular and molecular data are tools for studying magnetic resonance connectivity including modeling and simulation. At the end, we highlight perspectives of the Julich-Brain as well as methodological considerations. Thus, microstructural maps as part of a multimodal atlas help elucidate the biological correlates of large-scale networks and brain function with a high level of anatomical detail, which provides a basis to study brains of patients with psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zachlod
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Nicola Palomero-Gallagher
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; C. & O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Jülich Aachen Research Alliance-Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Timo Dickscheid
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Helmholtz AI, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Department of Computer Science, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katrin Amunts
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; C. & O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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4
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Eugenia Radulescu
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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5
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Takemura H, Thiebaut de Schotten M. Perspectives given by structural connectivity bridge the gap between structure and function. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:1189-1192. [PMID: 32415413 PMCID: PMC7270985 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02080-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiromasa Takemura
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, and Osaka University, Suita-shi, Japan. .,Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita-shi, Japan.
| | - Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Laboratory, Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France.,Groupe D'Imagerie Neurofonctionnelle, Institut Des Maladies Neurodégénératives-UMR 5293, CNRS, CEA University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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6
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Bartha-Doering L, Kollndorfer K, Schwartz E, Fischmeister FPS, Alexopoulos J, Langs G, Prayer D, Kasprian G, Seidl R. The role of the corpus callosum in language network connectivity in children. Dev Sci 2020; 24:e13031. [PMID: 32790079 PMCID: PMC7988581 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The specific role of the corpus callosum (CC) in language network organization remains unclear, two contrasting models have been proposed: inhibition of homotopic areas allowing for independent functioning of the hemispheres versus integration of information from both hemispheres. This study aimed to add to this discussion with the first investigation of language network connectivity in combination with CC volume measures. In 38 healthy children aged 6–12, we performed task‐based functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure language network connectivity, used structural magnetic resonance imaging to quantify CC subsection volumes, and administered various language tests to examine language abilities. We found an increase in left intrahemispheric and bilateral language network connectivity and a decrease in right intrahemispheric connectivity associated with larger volumes of the posterior, mid‐posterior, and central subsections of the CC. Consistent with that, larger volumes of the posterior parts of the CC were significantly associated with better verbal fluency and vocabulary, the anterior CC volume was positively correlated with verbal span. Thus, children with larger volumes of CC subsections showed increased interhemispheric language network connectivity and were better in different language domains. This study presents the first evidence that the CC is directly linked to language network connectivity and underlines the excitatory role of the CC in the integration of information from both hemispheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Bartha-Doering
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kathrin Kollndorfer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Schwartz
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Johanna Alexopoulos
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Langs
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Prayer
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Kasprian
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer Seidl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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7
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BigBrain 3D atlas of cortical layers: Cortical and laminar thickness gradients diverge in sensory and motor cortices. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000678. [PMID: 32243449 PMCID: PMC7159250 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Histological atlases of the cerebral cortex, such as those made famous by Brodmann and von Economo, are invaluable for understanding human brain microstructure and its relationship with functional organization in the brain. However, these existing atlases are limited to small numbers of manually annotated samples from a single cerebral hemisphere, measured from 2D histological sections. We present the first whole-brain quantitative 3D laminar atlas of the human cerebral cortex. It was derived from a 3D histological atlas of the human brain at 20-micrometer isotropic resolution (BigBrain), using a convolutional neural network to segment, automatically, the cortical layers in both hemispheres. Our approach overcomes many of the historical challenges with measurement of histological thickness in 2D, and the resultant laminar atlas provides an unprecedented level of precision and detail. We utilized this BigBrain cortical atlas to test whether previously reported thickness gradients, as measured by MRI in sensory and motor processing cortices, were present in a histological atlas of cortical thickness and which cortical layers were contributing to these gradients. Cortical thickness increased across sensory processing hierarchies, primarily driven by layers III, V, and VI. In contrast, motor-frontal cortices showed the opposite pattern, with decreases in total and pyramidal layer thickness from motor to frontal association cortices. These findings illustrate how this laminar atlas will provide a link between single-neuron morphology, mesoscale cortical layering, macroscopic cortical thickness, and, ultimately, functional neuroanatomy. Using deep learning to segment the layers of the cerebral cortex, this study presents the first whole brain quantitative atlas of cortical and laminar structure. This laminar atlas provides a novel framework for bridging between the scales of neuroscience.
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8
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Assaf Y, Johansen-Berg H, Thiebaut de Schotten M. The role of diffusion MRI in neuroscience. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2019; 32:e3762. [PMID: 28696013 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted imaging has pushed the boundaries of neuroscience by allowing us to examine the white matter microstructure of the living human brain. By doing so, it has provided answers to fundamental neuroscientific questions, launching a new field of research that had been largely inaccessible. We briefly summarize key questions that have historically been raised in neuroscience concerning the brain's white matter. We then expand on the benefits of diffusion-weighted imaging and its contribution to the fields of brain anatomy, functional models and plasticity. In doing so, this review highlights the invaluable contribution of diffusion-weighted imaging in neuroscience, presents its limitations and proposes new challenges for future generations who may wish to exploit this powerful technology to gain novel insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaniv Assaf
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Heidi Johansen-Berg
- FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Frontlab, Brain and Spine Institute, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du cerveau et la moelle (ICM) - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
- Centre de Neuroimagerie de Recherche CENIR, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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9
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Zilles K. Brodmann: a pioneer of human brain mapping-his impact on concepts of cortical organization. Brain 2018; 141:3262-3278. [PMID: 30358817 PMCID: PMC6202576 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karl Zilles
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Germany
- JARA–Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen, Germany
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10
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Sanda N, Cerliani L, Authié CN, Sabbah N, Sahel JA, Habas C, Safran AB, Thiebaut de Schotten M. Visual brain plasticity induced by central and peripheral visual field loss. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 223:3473-3485. [PMID: 29936553 PMCID: PMC6132657 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1700-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Disorders that specifically affect central and peripheral vision constitute invaluable models to study how the human brain adapts to visual deafferentation. We explored cortical changes after the loss of central or peripheral vision. Cortical thickness (CoTks) and resting-state cortical entropy (rs-CoEn), as a surrogate for neural and synaptic complexity, were extracted in 12 Stargardt macular dystrophy, 12 retinitis pigmentosa (tunnel vision stage), and 14 normally sighted subjects. When compared to controls, both groups with visual loss exhibited decreased CoTks in dorsal area V3d. Peripheral visual field loss also showed a specific CoTks decrease in early visual cortex and ventral area V4, while central visual field loss in dorsal area V3A. Only central visual field loss exhibited increased CoEn in LO-2 area and FG1. Current results revealed biomarkers of brain plasticity within the dorsal and the ventral visual streams following central and peripheral visual field defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolae Sanda
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR S968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France.
- INSERM, U968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France.
- CNRS, UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France.
- Centre d'investigation clinique, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, 75012, Paris, France.
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospital and Geneva University School of Medicine, Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Leonardo Cerliani
- Frontlab, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du cerveau et la moelle (ICM), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Boulevard de l'hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Colas N Authié
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR S968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- INSERM, U968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- Centre d'investigation clinique, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Norman Sabbah
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR S968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- INSERM, U968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- Centre d'investigation clinique, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, 75012, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR S968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- INSERM, U968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- Centre d'investigation clinique, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, 75012, Paris, France
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College of London, London, UK
- Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, USA
| | - Christophe Habas
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR S968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- INSERM, U968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- Centre de Neuroimagerie, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Avinoam B Safran
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR S968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- INSERM, U968, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, 75012, Paris, France
- Centre d'investigation clinique, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, 75012, Paris, France
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospital and Geneva University School of Medicine, Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- Frontlab, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du cerveau et la moelle (ICM), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Boulevard de l'hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- Groupe d'Imagerie Neurofonctionnelle, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, CNRS, CEA University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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11
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Thiebaut de Schotten M, Urbanski M, Batrancourt B, Levy R, Dubois B, Cerliani L, Volle E. Rostro-caudal Architecture of the Frontal Lobes in Humans. Cereb Cortex 2018; 27:4033-4047. [PMID: 27461122 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The nature of the inputs and outputs of a brain region defines its functional specialization. The frontal portion of the brain is essential for goal-directed behaviors, however, the biological basis for its functional organization is unknown. Here, exploring structural connectomic properties, we delineated 12 frontal areas, defined by the pattern of their white matter connections. This result was highly reproducible across neuroimaging centers, acquisition parameters, and participants. These areas corresponded to regions functionally engaged in specific tasks, organized along a rostro-caudal axis from the most complex high-order association areas to the simplest idiotopic areas. The rostro-caudal axis along which the 12 regions were organized also reflected a gradient of cortical thickness, myelination, and cell body density. Importantly, across the identified regions, this gradient of microstructural features was strongly associated with the varying degree of information processing complexity. These new anatomical signatures shed light onto the structural organization of the frontal lobes and could help strengthen the prediction or diagnosis of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Brain and Spine Institute, Paris, France.,Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France.,Centre de Neuroimagerie de Recherche CENIR, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Marika Urbanski
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Brain and Spine Institute, Paris, France.,Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France.,Service de Médecine et de Réadaptation, Hôpitaux de Saint-Maurice, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Benedicte Batrancourt
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Brain and Spine Institute, Paris, France.,Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
| | - Richard Levy
- Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Dubois
- Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
| | - Leonardo Cerliani
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Brain and Spine Institute, Paris, France.,Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Volle
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Group, Brain and Spine Institute, Paris, France.,Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France.,Centre de Neuroimagerie de Recherche CENIR, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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12
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Ferguson B, Petridou N, Fracasso A, van den Heuvel MP, Brouwer RM, Hulshoff Pol HE, Kahn RS, Mandl RCW. Detailed T1-Weighted Profiles from the Human Cortex Measured in Vivo at 3 Tesla MRI. Neuroinformatics 2018; 16:181-196. [PMID: 29352389 PMCID: PMC5984962 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-018-9356-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Studies into cortical thickness in psychiatric diseases based on T1-weighted MRI frequently report on aberrations in the cerebral cortex. Due to limitations in image resolution for studies conducted at conventional MRI field strengths (e.g. 3 Tesla (T)) this information cannot be used to establish which of the cortical layers may be implicated. Here we propose a new analysis method that computes one high-resolution average cortical profile per brain region extracting myeloarchitectural information from T1-weighted MRI scans that are routinely acquired at a conventional field strength. To assess this new method, we acquired standard T1-weighted scans at 3 T and compared them with state-of-the-art ultra-high resolution T1-weighted scans optimised for intracortical myelin contrast acquired at 7 T. Average cortical profiles were computed for seven different brain regions. Besides a qualitative comparison between the 3 T scans, 7 T scans, and results from literature, we tested if the results from dynamic time warping-based clustering are similar for the cortical profiles computed from 7 T and 3 T data. In addition, we quantitatively compared cortical profiles computed for V1, V2 and V7 for both 7 T and 3 T data using a priori information on their relative myelin concentration. Although qualitative comparisons show that at an individual level average profiles computed for 7 T have more pronounced features than 3 T profiles the results from the quantitative analyses suggest that average cortical profiles computed from T1-weighted scans acquired at 3 T indeed contain myeloarchitectural information similar to profiles computed from the scans acquired at 7 T. The proposed method therefore provides a step forward to study cortical myeloarchitecture in vivo at conventional magnetic field strength both in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Ferguson
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, HPNR A01.126, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Natalia Petridou
- Radiology Department, Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alessio Fracasso
- Radiology Department, Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584, CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn P van den Heuvel
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, HPNR A01.126, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel M Brouwer
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, HPNR A01.126, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, HPNR A01.126, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René S Kahn
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, HPNR A01.126, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René C W Mandl
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, HPNR A01.126, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- CNSR, Psykiatrisk Center Glostrup, Ndr. Ringvej 29-67, DK-2600, Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark
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13
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Haast RAM, Ivanov D, Uludağ K. The impact of B1+ correction on MP2RAGE cortical T 1 and apparent cortical thickness at 7T. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:2412-2425. [PMID: 29457319 PMCID: PMC5969159 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Determination of cortical thickness using MRI has often been criticized due to the presence of various error sources. Specifically, anatomical MRI relying on T1 contrast may be unreliable due to spatially variable image contrast between gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Especially at ultra‐high field (≥ 7T) MRI, transmit and receive B1‐related image inhomogeneities can hamper correct classification of tissue types. In the current paper, we demonstrate that residual
B1+ (transmit) inhomogeneities in the T1‐weighted and quantitative T1 images using the MP2RAGE sequence at 7T lead to biases in cortical thickness measurements. As expected, post‐hoc correction for the spatially varying
B1+ profile reduced the apparent T1 values across the cortex in regions with low
B1+, and slightly increased apparent T1 in regions with high
B1+. As a result, improved contrast‐to‐noise ratio both at the GM‐CSF and GM‐WM boundaries can be observed leading to more accurate surface reconstructions and cortical thickness estimates. Overall, the changes in cortical thickness ranged between a 5% decrease to a 70% increase after
B1+ correction, reducing the variance of cortical thickness values across the brain dramatically and increasing the comparability with normative data. More specifically, the cortical thickness estimates increased in regions characterized by a strong decrease of apparent T1 after
B1+ correction in regions with low
B1+ due to improved detection of the pial surface. The current results suggest that cortical thickness can be more accurately determined using MP2RAGE data at 7T if
B1+ inhomogeneities are accounted for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy A M Haast
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Dimo Ivanov
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Kâmil Uludağ
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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14
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Sommer S, Kozerke S, Seifritz E, Staempfli P. Uniformity and Deviation of Intra-axonal Cross-sectional Area Coverage of the Gray-to-White Matter Interface. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:729. [PMID: 29311800 PMCID: PMC5743743 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is a compelling tool for investigating the structure and geometry of brain tissue based on indirect measurement of the diffusion anisotropy of water. Recent developments in global top-down tractogram optimizations enable the estimation of streamline weights, which characterize the connection between gray matter areas. In this work, the intra-axonal cross-sectional area coverage of the gray-to-white matter interface was examined by intersecting tractography streamlines with cortical regions of interest. The area coverage is the ratio of streamline weights divided by the surface area at the gray-to-white matter interface and assesses the estimated percentage which is covered by intra-axonal space. A high correlation (r = 0.935) between streamline weights and the cortical surface area was found across all regions of interest in all subjects. The variance across different cortical regions exhibits similarities to myelin maps. Additionally, we examined the effect of different diffusion gradient subsets at a lower, clinically feasible spatial resolution. Subsampling of the initial high-resolution diffusion dataset did not alter the tendency of the area coverage at the gray-to-white matter interface across cortical areas and subjects. However, single-shell acquisition schemes with lower b-values lead to a steady increase in area coverage in comparison to the full acquisition scheme at high resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Sommer
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,MR-Center of the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics and of Child and Youth Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Kozerke
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Staempfli
- MR-Center of the Departments of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics and of Child and Youth Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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