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Tipado Z, Kuypers KPC, Sorger B, Ramaekers JG. Visual hallucinations originating in the retinofugal pathway under clinical and psychedelic conditions. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 85:10-20. [PMID: 38648694 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelics like LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) and psilocybin are known to modulate perceptual modalities due to the activation of mostly serotonin receptors in specific cortical (e.g., visual cortex) and subcortical (e.g., thalamus) regions of the brain. In the visual domain, these psychedelic modulations often result in peculiar disturbances of viewed objects and light and sometimes even in hallucinations of non-existent environments, objects, and creatures. Although the underlying processes are poorly understood, research conducted over the past twenty years on the subjective experience of psychedelics details theories that attempt to explain these perceptual alterations due to a disruption of communication between cortical and subcortical regions. However, rare medical conditions in the visual system like Charles Bonnet syndrome that cause perceptual distortions may shed new light on the additional importance of the retinofugal pathway in psychedelic subjective experiences. Interneurons in the retina called amacrine cells could be the first site of visual psychedelic modulation and aid in disrupting the hierarchical structure of how humans perceive visual information. This paper presents an understanding of how the retinofugal pathway communicates and modulates visual information in psychedelic and clinical conditions. Therefore, we elucidate a new theory of psychedelic modulation in the retinofugal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeus Tipado
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
| | - Kim P C Kuypers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Bettina Sorger
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
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2
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Vidal JP, Danet L, Péran P, Pariente J, Bach Cuadra M, Zahr NM, Barbeau EJ, Saranathan M. Robust thalamic nuclei segmentation from T1-weighted MRI using polynomial intensity transformation. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1087-1101. [PMID: 38546872 PMCID: PMC11147736 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02777-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Accurate segmentation of thalamic nuclei, crucial for understanding their role in healthy cognition and in pathologies, is challenging to achieve on standard T1-weighted (T1w) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to poor image contrast. White-matter-nulled (WMn) MRI sequences improve intrathalamic contrast but are not part of clinical protocols or extant databases. In this study, we introduce histogram-based polynomial synthesis (HIPS), a fast preprocessing transform step that synthesizes WMn-like image contrast from standard T1w MRI using a polynomial approximation for intensity transformation. HIPS was incorporated into THalamus Optimized Multi-Atlas Segmentation (THOMAS) pipeline, a method developed and optimized for WMn MRI. HIPS-THOMAS was compared to a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based segmentation method and THOMAS modified for the use of T1w images (T1w-THOMAS). The robustness and accuracy of the three methods were tested across different image contrasts (MPRAGE, SPGR, and MP2RAGE), scanner manufacturers (PHILIPS, GE, and Siemens), and field strengths (3 T and 7 T). HIPS-transformed images improved intra-thalamic contrast and thalamic boundaries, and HIPS-THOMAS yielded significantly higher mean Dice coefficients and reduced volume errors compared to both the CNN method and T1w-THOMAS. Finally, all three methods were compared using the frequently travelling human phantom MRI dataset for inter- and intra-scanner variability, with HIPS displaying the least inter-scanner variability and performing comparably with T1w-THOMAS for intra-scanner variability. In conclusion, our findings highlight the efficacy and robustness of HIPS in enhancing thalamic nuclei segmentation from standard T1w MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie P Vidal
- CNRS, CerCo (Brain and Cognition Research Center), Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France
- INSERM, ToNiC (Toulouse NeuroImaging Center), Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France
| | - Lola Danet
- INSERM, ToNiC (Toulouse NeuroImaging Center), Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France
- Neurology Department, Purpan Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital Center, Toulouse, France
| | - Patrice Péran
- INSERM, ToNiC (Toulouse NeuroImaging Center), Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérémie Pariente
- INSERM, ToNiC (Toulouse NeuroImaging Center), Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France
- Neurology Department, Purpan Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital Center, Toulouse, France
| | - Meritxell Bach Cuadra
- CIBM Center for Biomedical Imaging, Radiology Department, Lausanne University and University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natalie M Zahr
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Emmanuel J Barbeau
- CNRS, CerCo (Brain and Cognition Research Center), Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France
| | - Manojkumar Saranathan
- Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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Bulut T, Hagoort P. Contributions of the left and right thalami to language: A meta-analytic approach. Brain Struct Funct 2024:10.1007/s00429-024-02795-3. [PMID: 38625556 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02795-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a pervasive cortico-centric view in cognitive neuroscience, subcortical structures including the thalamus have been shown to be increasingly involved in higher cognitive functions. Previous structural and functional imaging studies demonstrated cortico-thalamo-cortical loops which may support various cognitive functions including language. However, large-scale functional connectivity of the thalamus during language tasks has not been examined before. METHODS The present study employed meta-analytic connectivity modeling to identify language-related coactivation patterns of the left and right thalami. The left and right thalami were used as regions of interest to search the BrainMap functional database for neuroimaging experiments with healthy participants reporting language-related activations in each region of interest. Activation likelihood estimation analyses were then carried out on the foci extracted from the identified studies to estimate functional convergence for each thalamus. A functional decoding analysis based on the same database was conducted to characterize thalamic contributions to different language functions. RESULTS The results revealed bilateral frontotemporal and bilateral subcortical (basal ganglia) coactivation patterns for both the left and right thalami, and also right cerebellar coactivations for the left thalamus, during language processing. In light of previous empirical studies and theoretical frameworks, the present connectivity and functional decoding findings suggest that cortico-subcortical-cerebellar-cortical loops modulate and fine-tune information transfer within the bilateral frontotemporal cortices during language processing, especially during production and semantic operations, but also other language (e.g., syntax, phonology) and cognitive operations (e.g., attention, cognitive control). CONCLUSION The current findings show that the language-relevant network extends beyond the classical left perisylvian cortices and spans bilateral cortical, bilateral subcortical (bilateral thalamus, bilateral basal ganglia) and right cerebellar regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talat Bulut
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Speech and Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Peter Hagoort
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Seoane S, van den Heuvel M, Acebes Á, Janssen N. The subcortical default mode network and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae128. [PMID: 38665961 PMCID: PMC11043657 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The default mode network is a central cortical brain network suggested to play a major role in several disorders and to be particularly vulnerable to the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Subcortical involvement in the default mode network and its alteration in Alzheimer's disease remains largely unknown. We performed a systematic review, meta-analysis and empirical validation of the subcortical default mode network in healthy adults, combined with a systematic review, meta-analysis and network analysis of the involvement of subcortical default mode areas in Alzheimer's disease. Our results show that, besides the well-known cortical default mode network brain regions, the default mode network consistently includes subcortical regions, namely the thalamus, lobule and vermis IX and right Crus I/II of the cerebellum and the amygdala. Network analysis also suggests the involvement of the caudate nucleus. In Alzheimer's disease, we observed a left-lateralized cluster of decrease in functional connectivity which covered the medial temporal lobe and amygdala and showed overlap with the default mode network in a portion covering parts of the left anterior hippocampus and left amygdala. We also found an increase in functional connectivity in the right anterior insula. These results confirm the consistency of subcortical contributions to the default mode network in healthy adults and highlight the relevance of the subcortical default mode network alteration in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Seoane
- Department of Complex Traits Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies (ITB), University of La Laguna, Tenerife 38200, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), University of La Laguna, Tenerife 38200, Spain
| | - Martijn van den Heuvel
- Department of Complex Traits Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Section Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Ángel Acebes
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies (ITB), University of La Laguna, Tenerife 38200, Spain
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of La Laguna, Tenerife 38200, Spain
| | - Niels Janssen
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies (ITB), University of La Laguna, Tenerife 38200, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), University of La Laguna, Tenerife 38200, Spain
- Department of Cognitive, Social and Organizational Psychology, University of La Laguna, Tenerife 38200, Spain
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Gao C, Wu X, Wang Y, Li G, Ma L, Wang C, Xie S, Chu C, Madsen KH, Hou Z, Fan L. Prior-guided individualized thalamic parcellation based on local diffusion characteristics. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26646. [PMID: 38433705 PMCID: PMC10910286 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Comprising numerous subnuclei, the thalamus intricately interconnects the cortex and subcortex, orchestrating various facets of brain functions. Extracting personalized parcellation patterns for these subnuclei is crucial, as different thalamic nuclei play varying roles in cognition and serve as therapeutic targets for neuromodulation. However, accurately delineating the thalamic nuclei boundary at the individual level is challenging due to intersubject variability. In this study, we proposed a prior-guided parcellation (PG-par) method to achieve robust individualized thalamic parcellation based on a central-boundary prior. We first constructed probabilistic atlas of thalamic nuclei using high-quality diffusion MRI datasets based on the local diffusion characteristics. Subsequently, high-probability voxels in the probabilistic atlas were utilized as prior guidance to train unique multiple classification models for each subject based on a multilayer perceptron. Finally, we employed the trained model to predict the parcellation labels for thalamic voxels and construct individualized thalamic parcellation. Through a test-retest assessment, the proposed prior-guided individualized thalamic parcellation exhibited excellent reproducibility and the capacity to detect individual variability. Compared with group atlas registration and individual clustering parcellation, the proposed PG-par demonstrated superior parcellation performance under different scanning protocols and clinic settings. Furthermore, the prior-guided individualized parcellation exhibited better correspondence with the histological staining atlas. The proposed prior-guided individualized thalamic parcellation method contributes to the personalized modeling of brain parcellation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaohong Gao
- Sino‐Danish CollegeSino‐Danish Center for Education and ResearchUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer ScienceTechnical University of DenmarkKongens LyngbyDenmark
| | - Xia Wu
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yaping Wang
- Sino‐Danish CollegeSino‐Danish Center for Education and ResearchUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer ScienceTechnical University of DenmarkKongens LyngbyDenmark
| | - Gang Li
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Liang Ma
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Changshuo Wang
- Sino‐Danish CollegeSino‐Danish Center for Education and ResearchUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Sangma Xie
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation, School of AutomationHangzhou Dianzi UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Congying Chu
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Kristoffer Hougaard Madsen
- Sino‐Danish CollegeSino‐Danish Center for Education and ResearchUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer ScienceTechnical University of DenmarkKongens LyngbyDenmark
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and ResearchCopenhagen University Hospital—Amager and HvidovreHvidovreDenmark
| | - Zhongyu Hou
- Department of Medical ImagingShandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityJinanChina
| | - Lingzhong Fan
- Sino‐Danish CollegeSino‐Danish Center for Education and ResearchUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of AutomationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- School of Health and Life SciencesUniversity of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesQingdaoShandongChina
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Pang X, Liang X, Chang W, Lv Z, Zhao J, Wu P, Li X, Wei W, Zheng J. The role of the thalamus in modular functional networks in temporal lobe epilepsy with cognitive impairment. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14345. [PMID: 37424152 PMCID: PMC10848054 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive deficit is common in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Here, we aimed to investigate the modular architecture of functional networks associated with distinct cognitive states in TLE patients together with the role of the thalamus in modular networks. METHODS Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 53 TLE patients and 37 matched healthy controls. All patients received the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and accordingly were divided into TLE patients with normal cognition (TLE-CN, n = 35) and TLE patients with cognitive impairment (TLE-CI, n = 18) groups. The modular properties of functional networks were calculated and compared including global modularity Q, modular segregation index, intramodular connections, and intermodular connections. Thalamic subdivisions corresponding to the modular networks were generated by applying a 'winner-take-all' strategy before analyzing the modular properties (participation coefficient and within-module degree z-score) of each thalamic subdivision to assess the contribution of the thalamus to modular functional networks. Relationships between network properties and cognitive performance were then further explored. RESULTS Both TLE-CN and TLE-CI patients showed lower global modularity, as well as lower modular segregation index values for the ventral attention network and the default mode network. However, different patterns of intramodular and intermodular connections existed for different cognitive states. In addition, both TLE-CN and TLE-CI patients exhibited anomalous modular properties of functional thalamic subdivisions, with TLE-CI patients presenting a broader range of abnormalities. Cognitive performance in TLE-CI patients was not related to the modular properties of functional network but rather to the modular properties of functional thalamic subdivisions. CONCLUSIONS The thalamus plays a prominent role in modular networks and potentially represents a key neural mechanism underlying cognitive impairment in TLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Pang
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Xiulin Liang
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Weiwei Chang
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Zongxia Lv
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Jingyuan Zhao
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Peirong Wu
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Xinrong Li
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Wutong Wei
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
| | - Jinou Zheng
- Department of NeurologyGuangxi Medical University First Affiliated HospitalNanningChina
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7
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Vidal JP, Danet L, Péran P, Pariente J, Cuadra MB, Zahr NM, Barbeau EJ, Saranathan M. Robust thalamic nuclei segmentation from T1-weighted MRI using polynomial intensity transformation. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.01.30.24301606. [PMID: 38352493 PMCID: PMC10862991 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.30.24301606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Accurate segmentation of thalamic nuclei, crucial for understanding their role in healthy cognition and in pathologies, is challenging to achieve on standard T1-weighted (T1w) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to poor image contrast. White-matter-nulled (WMn) MRI sequences improve intrathalamic contrast but are not part of clinical protocols or extant databases. In this study, we introduce histogram-based polynomial synthesis (HIPS), a fast preprocessing transform step that synthesizes WMn-like image contrast from standard T1w MRI using a polynomial approximation for intensity transformation. HIPS was incorporated into THalamus Optimized Multi-Atlas Segmentation (THOMAS) pipeline, a method developed and optimized for WMn MRI. HIPS-THOMAS was compared to a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based segmentation method and THOMAS modified for T1w images (T1w-THOMAS). The robustness and accuracy of the three methods were tested across different image contrasts (MPRAGE, SPGR, and MP2RAGE), scanner manufacturers (PHILIPS, GE, and Siemens), and field strengths (3T and 7T). HIPS-transformed images improved intra-thalamic contrast and thalamic boundaries, and HIPS-THOMAS yielded significantly higher mean Dice coefficients and reduced volume errors compared to both the CNN method and T1w-THOMAS. Finally, all three methods were compared using the frequently travelling human phantom MRI dataset for inter- and intra-scanner variability, with HIPS displaying the least inter-scanner variability and performing comparably with T1w-THOMAS for intra-scanner variability. In conclusion, our findings highlight the efficacy and robustness of HIPS in enhancing thalamic nuclei segmentation from standard T1w MRI.
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8
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Rao Y, Ge L, Wu J. A systematic review and coordinate-based meta-analysis of fMRI studies on acupuncture at LR 3. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1341567. [PMID: 38348133 PMCID: PMC10859399 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1341567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives The acupoint LR3 (Taichong) is frequently utilized in clinical acupuncture. However, its underlying neural mechanisms remain not fully elucidated, with speculations suggesting its close association with specific brain activity patterns. Methods A comprehensive literature search was undertaken across several online databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Database. Two independent researchers handled the study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction processes. Using the seed-based d-mapping meta-analysis approach, we evaluated the brain regions activated by LR3 acupuncture in healthy subjects. Subsequent subgroup analysis was stratified by fMRI types, and regression analyses were performed considering the duration of acupuncture, depth of needle insertion, and needle diameter. The identified active brain regions were then intricately projected onto large-scale functional networks. Results A total of 10 studies met the criteria for inclusion, encompassing 319 healthy right-handed participants. The meta-analysis indicates that acupuncture at the LR3 activates regions such as the right postcentral gyrus, left thalamus, left middle frontal gyrus, and right superior frontal gyrus. Additionally, meta-regression analysis highlights that increased acupuncture duration correlates with progressively intensified activation of the right superior frontal gyrus. Subgroup analysis posits that variations in the type of fMRI employed might account for heterogeneity in the pooled results. Concurrently, functional network analysis identifies the primary activated regions as aligning with the Basal ganglia network, Auditory network, Left executive control network, Posterior salience network, Right executive control network, and Sensorimotor networks. Conclusion Acupuncture at the LR3 in healthy subjects selectively activates brain regions linked to pain perception, emotional processing, and linguistic functions. Extending the needle retention duration intensifies the activation of the right superior frontal gyrus. These findings enrich our comprehension of the neurobiological underpinnings of acupuncture's role in pain mitigation and emotional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Rao
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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9
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Boeken OJ, Cieslik EC, Langner R, Markett S. Characterizing functional modules in the human thalamus: coactivation-based parcellation and systems-level functional decoding. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1811-1834. [PMID: 36547707 PMCID: PMC10516793 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02603-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The human thalamus relays sensory signals to the cortex and facilitates brain-wide communication. The thalamus is also more directly involved in sensorimotor and various cognitive functions but a full characterization of its functional repertoire, particularly in regard to its internal anatomical structure, is still outstanding. As a putative hub in the human connectome, the thalamus might reveal its functional profile only in conjunction with interconnected brain areas. We therefore developed a novel systems-level Bayesian reverse inference decoding that complements the traditional neuroinformatics approach towards a network account of thalamic function. The systems-level decoding considers the functional repertoire (i.e., the terms associated with a brain region) of all regions showing co-activations with a predefined seed region in a brain-wide fashion. Here, we used task-constrained meta-analytic connectivity-based parcellation (MACM-CBP) to identify thalamic subregions as seed regions and applied the systems-level decoding to these subregions in conjunction with functionally connected cortical regions. Our results confirm thalamic structure-function relationships known from animal and clinical studies and revealed further associations with language, memory, and locomotion that have not been detailed in the cognitive neuroscience literature before. The systems-level decoding further uncovered large systems engaged in autobiographical memory and nociception. We propose this novel decoding approach as a useful tool to detect previously unknown structure-function relationships at the brain network level, and to build viable starting points for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole J Boeken
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Psychology, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Edna C Cieslik
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Robert Langner
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Markett
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Psychology, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489, Berlin, Germany
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Oldham S, Ball G. A phylogenetically-conserved axis of thalamocortical connectivity in the human brain. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6032. [PMID: 37758726 PMCID: PMC10533558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41722-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The thalamus enables key sensory, motor, emotive, and cognitive processes via connections to the cortex. These projection patterns are traditionally considered to originate from discrete thalamic nuclei, however recent work showing gradients of molecular and connectivity features in the thalamus suggests the organisation of thalamocortical connections occurs along a continuous dimension. By performing a joint decomposition of densely sampled gene expression and non-invasive diffusion tractography in the adult human thalamus, we define a principal axis of genetic and connectomic variation along a medial-lateral thalamic gradient. Projections along this axis correspond to an anterior-posterior cortical pattern and are aligned with electrophysiological properties of the cortex. The medial-lateral axis demonstrates phylogenetic conservation, reflects transitions in neuronal subtypes, and shows associations with neurodevelopment and common brain disorders. This study provides evidence for a supra-nuclear axis of thalamocortical organisation characterised by a graded transition in molecular properties and anatomical connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Oldham
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Gareth Ball
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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11
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Rosenzopf H, Klingbeil J, Wawrzyniak M, Röhrig L, Sperber C, Saur D, Karnath HO. Thalamocortical disconnection involved in pusher syndrome. Brain 2023; 146:3648-3661. [PMID: 36943319 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of both isolated thalamic and isolated cortical lesions have been reported in the context of pusher syndrome-a disorder characterized by a disturbed perception of one's own upright body posture, following unilateral left- or right-sided stroke. In recent times, indirect quantification of functional and structural disconnection increases the knowledge derived from focal brain lesions by inferring subsequent brain network damage from the respective lesion. We applied both measures to a sample of 124 stroke patients to investigate brain disconnection in pusher syndrome. Our results suggest a hub-like function of the posterior and lateral portions of the thalamus in the perception of one's own postural upright. Lesion network symptom mapping investigating functional disconnection indicated cortical diaschisis in cerebellar, frontal, parietal and temporal areas in patients with thalamic lesions suffering from pusher syndrome, but there was no evidence for functional diaschisis in pusher patients with cortical stroke and no evidence for the convergence of thalamic and cortical lesions onto a common functional network. Structural disconnection mapping identified posterior thalamic disconnection to temporal, pre-, post- and paracentral regions. Fibre tracking between the thalamic and cortical pusher lesion hotspots indicated that in cortical lesions of patients with pusher syndrome, it is disconnectivity to the posterior thalamus caused by accompanying white matter damage, rather than the direct cortical lesions themselves, that lead to the emergence of pusher syndrome. Our analyses thus offer the first evidence for a direct thalamo-cortical (or cortico-thalamic) interconnection and, more importantly, shed light on the location of the respective thalamo-cortical disconnections. Pusher syndrome seems to be a consequence of direct damage or of disconnection of the posterior thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Rosenzopf
- Center of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julian Klingbeil
- Neuroimaging Lab, Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Max Wawrzyniak
- Neuroimaging Lab, Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisa Röhrig
- Center of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Sperber
- Center of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dorothee Saur
- Neuroimaging Lab, Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hans-Otto Karnath
- Center of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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12
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Yang M, Liu L, Cui H, Deng C, Xiong W, Zhao G, Du S, Kosten TR, Chen H, Li Z, Zhang X. Dynamic functional thalamocortical dysconnectivity in schizophrenia correlates to antipsychotics response. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:40. [PMID: 37402747 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00371-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Although many studies have showed abnormal thalamocortical networks in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), the dynamic functional thalamocortical connectivity of individuals with SCZ and the effect of antipsychotics on this connectivity have not been investigated. Drug-naïve first-episode individuals with SCZ and healthy controls were recruited. Patients were treated with risperidone for 12 weeks. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was acquired at baseline and week 12. We identified six functional thalamic subdivisions. The sliding window strategy was used to determine the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) of each functional thalamic subdivision. Individuals with SCZ displayed decreased or increased dFC variance in different thalamic subdivisions. The baseline dFC between ventral posterior-lateral (VPL) portions and right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (rdSFG) correlated with psychotic symptoms. The dFC variance between VPL and right medial orbital superior frontal gyrus (rmoSFG) or rdSFG decreased after 12-week risperidone treatment. The decreased dFC variance between VPL and rmoSFG correlated with the reduction of PANSS scores. Interestingly, the dFC between VPL and rmoSFG or rdSFG decreased in responders. The dFC variance change of VPL and the averaged whole brain signal correlated with the risperidone efficacy. Our study demonstrates abnormal variability in thalamocortical dFC may be implicated in psychopathological symptoms and risperidone response in individuals with schizophrenia, suggesting that thalamocortical dFC variance may be correlated to the efficacy of antipsychotic treatment.Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00435370. https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00435370?term=NCT00435370&draw=2&rank=1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Yang
- The fourth people's hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Liju Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongmei Cui
- Qingdao Mental Health Center, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chijun Deng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weisen Xiong
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Guocheng Zhao
- The fourth people's hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Shulin Du
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Thomas R Kosten
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Epidemiology and Behavioral Science, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Huafu Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zezhi Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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13
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Kikuchi H, Jitsuishi T, Hirono S, Yamaguchi A, Iwadate Y. 2D and 3D structures of the whole-brain, directly visible from 100-micron slice 7TMRI images. INTERDISCIPLINARY NEUROSURGERY 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inat.2023.101755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
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14
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McKenna MC, Lope J, Bede P, Tan EL. Thalamic pathology in frontotemporal dementia: Predilection for specific nuclei, phenotype-specific signatures, clinical correlates, and practical relevance. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2881. [PMID: 36609810 PMCID: PMC9927864 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) phenotypes are classically associated with distinctive cortical atrophy patterns and regional hypometabolism. However, the spectrum of cognitive and behavioral manifestations in FTD arises from multisynaptic network dysfunction. The thalamus is a key hub of several corticobasal and corticocortical circuits. The main circuits relayed via the thalamic nuclei include the dorsolateral prefrontal circuit, the anterior cingulate circuit, and the orbitofrontal circuit. METHODS In this paper, we have reviewed evidence for thalamic pathology in FTD based on radiological and postmortem studies. Original research papers were systematically reviewed for preferential involvement of specific thalamic regions, for phenotype-associated thalamic disease burden patterns, characteristic longitudinal changes, and genotype-associated thalamic signatures. Moreover, evidence for presymptomatic thalamic pathology was also reviewed. Identified papers were systematically scrutinized for imaging methods, cohort sizes, clinical profiles, clinicoradiological associations, and main anatomical findings. The findings of individual research papers were amalgamated for consensus observations and their study designs further evaluated for stereotyped shortcomings. Based on the limitations of existing studies and conflicting reports in low-incidence FTD variants, we sought to outline future research directions and pressing research priorities. RESULTS FTD is associated with focal thalamic degeneration. Phenotype-specific thalamic traits mirror established cortical vulnerability patterns. Thalamic nuclei mediating behavioral and language functions are preferentially involved. Given the compelling evidence for considerable thalamic disease burden early in the course of most FTD subtypes, we also reflect on the practical relevance, diagnostic role, prognostic significance, and monitoring potential of thalamic metrics in FTD. CONCLUSIONS Cardinal manifestations of FTD phenotypes are likely to stem from thalamocortical circuitry dysfunction and are not exclusively driven by focal cortical changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Clare McKenna
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Neurology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jasmin Lope
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Neurology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ee Ling Tan
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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15
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Schramm S, Börner C, Reichert M, Baum T, Zimmer C, Heinen F, Bonfert MV, Sollmann N. Functional magnetic resonance imaging in migraine: A systematic review. Cephalalgia 2023; 43:3331024221128278. [PMID: 36751858 DOI: 10.1177/03331024221128278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migraine is a highly prevalent primary headache disorder. Despite a high burden of disease, key disease mechanisms are not entirely understood. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is an imaging method using the blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal, which has been increasingly used in migraine research over recent years. This systematic review summarizes recent findings employing functional magnetic resonance imaging for the investigation of migraine. METHODS We conducted a systematic search and selection of functional magnetic resonance imaging applications in migraine from April 2014 to December 2021 (PubMed and references of identified articles according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines). Methodological details and main findings were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS Out of 224 articles identified, 114 were included after selection. Repeatedly emerging structures of interest included the insula, brainstem, limbic system, hypothalamus, thalamus, and functional networks. Assessment of functional brain changes in response to treatment is emerging, and machine learning has been used to investigate potential functional magnetic resonance imaging-based markers of migraine. CONCLUSIONS A wide variety of functional magnetic resonance imaging-based metrics were found altered across the brain for heterogeneous migraine cohorts, partially correlating with clinical parameters and supporting the concept to conceive migraine as a brain state. However, a majority of findings from previous studies have not been replicated, and studies varied considerably regarding image acquisition and analyses techniques. Thus, while functional magnetic resonance imaging appears to have the potential to advance our understanding of migraine pathophysiology, replication of findings in large representative datasets and precise, standardized reporting of clinical data would likely benefit the field and further increase the value of observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severin Schramm
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Corinna Börner
- LMU Hospital, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Munich, Germany.,LMU Center for Children with Medical Complexity, iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Miriam Reichert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Baum
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claus Zimmer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Heinen
- LMU Hospital, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Michaela V Bonfert
- LMU Hospital, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Munich, Germany.,LMU Center for Children with Medical Complexity, iSPZ Hauner, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Nico Sollmann
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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16
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Lu F, Chen Y, Cui Q, Guo Y, Pang Y, Luo W, Yu Y, Chen J, Gao J, Sheng W, Tang Q, Zeng Y, Jiang K, Gao Q, He Z, Chen H. Shared and distinct patterns of dynamic functional connectivity variability of thalamo-cortical circuit in bipolar depression and major depressive disorder. Cereb Cortex 2023:6987621. [PMID: 36642500 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence has indicated abnormalities of thalamo-cortical functional connectivity (FC) in bipolar disorder during a depressive episode (BDD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the dynamic FC (dFC) within this system is poorly understood. We explored the thalamo-cortical dFC pattern by dividing thalamus into 16 subregions and combining with a sliding-window approach. Correlation analysis was performed between altered dFC variability and clinical data. Classification analysis with a linear support vector machine model was conducted. Compared with healthy controls (HCs), both patients revealed increased dFC variability between thalamus subregions with hippocampus (HIP), angular gyrus and caudate, and only BDD showed increased dFC variability of the thalamus with superior frontal gyrus (SFG), HIP, insula, middle cingulate gyrus, and postcentral gyrus. Compared with MDD and HCs, only BDD exhibited enhanced dFC variability of the thalamus with SFG and superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, the number of depressive episodes in MDD was significantly positively associated with altered dFC variability. Finally, the disrupted dFC variability could distinguish BDD from MDD with 83.44% classification accuracy. BDD and MDD shared common disrupted dFC variability in the thalamo-limbic and striatal-thalamic circuitries, whereas BDD exhibited more extensive and broader aberrant dFC variability, which may facilitate distinguish between these 2 mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengmei Lu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Yanchi Chen
- Glasgow College, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, 611731, PR China
| | - Qian Cui
- School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, 611731, PR China
| | - Yuanhong Guo
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Yajing Pang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, No. 100 Science Avenue, High-tech Zone, 450001, PR China
| | - Wei Luo
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Yue Yu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Jiajia Chen
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Jingjing Gao
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, 611731, China
| | - Wei Sheng
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Qin Tang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Yuhong Zeng
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Kexing Jiang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Qing Gao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China.,School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, 611731, PR China
| | - Zongling He
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China
| | - Huafu Chen
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Yingmenkou Road, Jinniu District, 611731, PR China.,MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, No. 2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, 611731, PR China
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17
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Garic D. The Important Link Between Sleep and Brain Health in Autism. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:3-5. [PMID: 36610771 PMCID: PMC10166597 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dea Garic
- From the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina..
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18
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Linke AC, Chen B, Olson L, Ibarra C, Fong C, Reynolds S, Apostol M, Kinnear M, Müller RA, Fishman I. Sleep Problems in Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder Are Associated With Sensory Sensitivities and Thalamocortical Overconnectivity. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:21-31. [PMID: 34343726 PMCID: PMC9826645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Projections between the thalamus and sensory cortices are established early in development and play an important role in regulating sleep as well as in relaying sensory information to the cortex. Atypical thalamocortical functional connectivity frequently observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might therefore be linked to sensory and sleep problems common in ASD. METHODS Here, we investigated the relationship between auditory-thalamic functional connectivity measured during natural sleep functional magnetic resonance imaging, sleep problems, and sound sensitivities in 70 toddlers and preschoolers (1.5-5 years old) with ASD compared with a matched group of 46 typically developing children. RESULTS In children with ASD, sleep problems and sensory sensitivities were positively correlated, and increased sleep latency was associated with overconnectivity between the thalamus and auditory cortex in a subsample with high-quality magnetic resonance imaging data (n = 29). In addition, auditory cortex blood oxygen level-dependent signal amplitude was elevated in children with ASD, potentially reflecting reduced sensory gating or a lack of auditory habituation during natural sleep. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that atypical thalamocortical functional connectivity can be detected early in development and may play a crucial role in sleep problems and sensory sensitivities in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Carola Linke
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
| | - Bosi Chen
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California; San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
| | - Lindsay Olson
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California; San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
| | - Cynthia Ibarra
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Chris Fong
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California; San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
| | - Sarah Reynolds
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Michael Apostol
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Mikaela Kinnear
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California; San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California; SDSU Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, San Diego, California
| | - Inna Fishman
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California; San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California; SDSU Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, San Diego, California
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19
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Chibaatar E, Watanabe K, Okamoto N, Orkhonselenge N, Natsuyama T, Hayakawa G, Ikenouchi A, Kakeda S, Yoshimura R. Volumetric assessment of individual thalamic nuclei in patients with drug-naïve, first-episode major depressive disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1151551. [PMID: 37032922 PMCID: PMC10073419 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1151551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite the previous inconsistent findings of structural and functional abnormalities of the thalamus in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), the disruption of the thalamic nuclei in the pathophysiology of this disorder has not yet been adequately studied. Therefore, we investigated the volumetric changes of thalamic subregions and their nuclei in drug-naïve, first-episode MDD patients. We also investigated the association between HAM-D scores, a clinical scale frequently used to evaluate the severity of depression and thalamic nuclei volumes in MDD patients. Methods This study included 76 drug-naïve MDD patients and an equal number of healthy subjects. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were obtained using a 3T MR system and thalamic nuclei volumes were evaluated using FreeSurfer ver.7.11. The volumetric differences were compared by one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and to ensure that effects were not accounted for by other factors, age, sex, and ETICV variables were included as covariates. Results We observed significant volume reductions of the left whole thalamus (p < 0.003) and several thalamic nuclei mostly on the left side in the MDD group compared with healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, we have revealed weak negative correlations between several thalamic nuclei volumes and HAM-D total and subscale scores. Discussion This is the first research study to investigate alterations of the various thalamic nuclei volumes in MDD patients compared with HCs. Moreover, we first analyzed the association between individual thalamic nuclei volumes and HAM-D subscale scores. Though our study may be restricted at certain levels, especially by the demographic difference between the two groups, they possibly contribute at a preliminary level to understanding the thalamic structural changes at its subregions in patients with drug-naïve, first-episode MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enkhmurun Chibaatar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Keita Watanabe
- Open Innovation Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naomichi Okamoto
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Nasanbadrakh Orkhonselenge
- Department of Second Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Tomoya Natsuyama
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Gaku Hayakawa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ikenouchi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Shingo Kakeda
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Reiji Yoshimura
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
- *Correspondence: Reiji Yoshimura,
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20
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Kumar VJ, Beckmann CF, Scheffler K, Grodd W. Relay and higher-order thalamic nuclei show an intertwined functional association with cortical-networks. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1187. [PMID: 36333448 PMCID: PMC9636420 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04126-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost all functional processing in the cortex strongly depends on thalamic interactions. However, in terms of functional interactions with the cerebral cortex, the human thalamus nuclei still partly constitute a terra incognita. Hence, for a deeper understanding of thalamic-cortical cooperation, it is essential to know how the different thalamic nuclei are associated with cortical networks. The present work examines network-specific connectivity and task-related topical mapping of cortical areas with the thalamus. The study finds that the relay and higher-order thalamic nuclei show an intertwined functional association with different cortical networks. In addition, the study indicates that relay-specific thalamic nuclei are not only involved with relay-specific behavior but also in higher-order functions. The study enriches our understanding of interactions between large-scale cortical networks and the thalamus, which may interest a broader audience in neuroscience and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, Germany
- Department for Biomedical MagneticResonance, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Grodd
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, Germany
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21
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Pfefferbaum A, Sullivan EV, Zahr NM, Pohl KM, Saranathan M. Multi-atlas thalamic nuclei segmentation on standard T1-weighed MRI with application to normal aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 44:612-628. [PMID: 36181510 PMCID: PMC9842912 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Specific thalamic nuclei are implicated in healthy aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. However, few methods are available for robust automated segmentation of thalamic nuclei. The threefold aims of this study were to validate the use of a modified thalamic nuclei segmentation method on standard T1 MRI data, to apply this method to quantify age-related volume declines, and to test functional meaningfulness by predicting performance on motor testing. A modified version of THalamus Optimized Multi-Atlas Segmentation (THOMAS) generated 22 unilateral thalamic nuclei. For validation, we compared nuclear volumes obtained from THOMAS parcellation of white-matter-nulled (WMn) MRI data to T1 MRI data in 45 participants. To examine the effects of age/sex on thalamic nuclear volumes, T1 MRI available from a second data set of 121 men and 117 women, ages 20-86 years, were segmented using THOMAS. To test for functional ramifications, composite regions and constituent nuclei were correlated with Grooved Pegboard test scores. THOMAS on standard T1 data showed significant quantitative agreement with THOMAS from WMn data, especially for larger nuclei. Sex differences revealing larger volumes in men than women were accounted for by adjustment with supratentorial intracranial volume (sICV). Significant sICV-adjusted correlations between age and thalamic nuclear volumes were detected in 20 of the 22 unilateral nuclei and whole thalamus. Composite Posterior and Ventral regions and Ventral Anterior/Pulvinar nuclei correlated selectively with higher scores from the eye-hand coordination task. These results support the use of THOMAS for standard T1-weighted data as adequately robust for thalamic nuclear parcellation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Center for Health SciencesSRI InternationalMenlo ParkCaliforniaUSA,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Edith V. Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Natalie M. Zahr
- Center for Health SciencesSRI InternationalMenlo ParkCaliforniaUSA,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kilian M. Pohl
- Center for Health SciencesSRI InternationalMenlo ParkCaliforniaUSA,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral SciencesStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Manojkumar Saranathan
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
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22
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Casamitjana A, Iglesias JE. High-resolution atlasing and segmentation of the subcortex: Review and perspective on challenges and opportunities created by machine learning. Neuroimage 2022; 263:119616. [PMID: 36084858 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reviews almost three decades of work on atlasing and segmentation methods for subcortical structures in human brain MRI. In writing this survey, we have three distinct aims. First, to document the evolution of digital subcortical atlases of the human brain, from the early MRI templates published in the nineties, to the complex multi-modal atlases at the subregion level that are available today. Second, to provide a detailed record of related efforts in the automated segmentation front, from earlier atlas-based methods to modern machine learning approaches. And third, to present a perspective on the future of high-resolution atlasing and segmentation of subcortical structures in in vivo human brain MRI, including open challenges and opportunities created by recent developments in machine learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrià Casamitjana
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, UK.
| | - Juan Eugenio Iglesias
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, UK; Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, USA
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23
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Zhang P, Wan X, Ai K, Zheng W, Liu G, Wang J, Huang W, Fan F, Yao Z, Zhang J. Rich-club reorganization and related network disruptions are associated with the symptoms and severity in classic trigeminal neuralgia patients. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103160. [PMID: 36037660 PMCID: PMC9434131 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations in white matter microstructure and functional activity have been demonstrated to be involved in the central nervous system mechanism of classic trigeminal neuralgia (CTN). However, the rich-club organization and related topological alterations in the CTN brain networks remain unclear. METHODS We simultaneously collected diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 29 patients with CTN (9 males, mean age = 54.59 years) and 34 matched healthy controls (HCs) (12 males, mean age = 54.97 years) to construct structural networks (SNs) and functional networks (FNs). Rich-club organization was determined separately based on each group's SN and different kinds of connections. For both network types, we calculated the basic connectivity properties (network density and strength) and topological properties (global/local/nodal efficiency and small worldness). Moreover, SN-FN coupling was obtained. The relationships between all those properties and clinical measures were evaluated. RESULTS Compared to their FN, the SN of CTN patients was disrupted more severely, including its topological properties (reduced network efficiency and small-worldness), and a decrease in network density and strength was observed. Patients showed reorganization of the rich-club architecture, wherein the nodes with decreased nodal efficiency in the SN were mainly non-hub regions, and the local connections were closely related to altered global efficiency and whole brain coupling. While the cortical-subcortical connections of feeder were found to be strengthened in the SN of patients, the coupling between networks increased in all types of connections. Finally, disease severity (duration, pain intensity, and affective alterations) was negatively correlated with coupling (rich-club, feeder, and whole brain) and network strength (the rich-club of the SN and local connections of the FN). A positive correlation was only found between pain intensity and the coupling of local connections. CONCLUSIONS The SN of patients with CTN may be more vulnerable. Accompanied by the reorganization of the rich-club, the less efficient network communication and the impaired functional dynamics were largely attributable to the dysfunction of non-hub regions. As compensation, the pain transmission pathway of feeder connections involving in pain processing and emotional regulation may strengthen. The local and feeder sub-networks may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zhang
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xinyue Wan
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Kai Ai
- Philips, Healthcare, Xi’an 710000, China
| | - Weihao Zheng
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Guangyao Liu
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wenjing Huang
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Fengxian Fan
- Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhijun Yao
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Corresponding authors at: Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China (Z. Yao). Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen No.82, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730030, China (J. Zhang).
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China,Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Lanzhou 730030, China,Corresponding authors at: Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China (Z. Yao). Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen No.82, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730030, China (J. Zhang).
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24
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Reproducible protocol to obtain and measure first-order relay human thalamic white-matter tracts. Neuroimage 2022; 262:119558. [PMID: 35973564 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The "primary" or "first-order relay" nuclei of the thalamus feed the cerebral cortex with information about ongoing activity in the environment or the subcortical motor systems. Because of the small size of these nuclei and the high specificity of their input and output pathways, new imaging protocols are required to investigate thalamocortical interactions in human perception, cognition and language. The goal of the present study was twofold: I) to develop a reconstruction protocol based on in vivo diffusion MRI to extract and measure the axonal fiber tracts that originate or terminate specifically in individual first-order relay nuclei; and, II) to test the reliability of this reconstruction protocol. In left and right hemispheres, we investigated the thalamocortical/corticothalamic axon bundles linking each of the first-order relay nuclei and their main cortical target areas, namely, the lateral geniculate nucleus (optic radiation), the medial geniculate nucleus (acoustic radiation), the ventral posterior nucleus (somatosensory radiation) and the ventral lateral nucleus (motor radiation). In addition, we examined the main subcortical input pathway to the ventral lateral posterior nucleus, which originates in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum. Our protocol comprised three components: defining regions-of-interest; preprocessing diffusion data; and modeling white-matter tracts and tractometry. We then used computation and test-retest methods to check whether our protocol could reliably reconstruct these tracts of interest and their profiles. Our results demonstrated that the protocol had nearly perfect computational reproducibility and good-to-excellent test-retest reproducibility. This new protocol may be of interest for both basic human brain neuroscience and clinical studies and has been made publicly available to the scientific community.
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25
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Yan W, Palaniyappan L, Liddle PF, Rangaprakash D, Wei W, Deshpande G. Characterization of Hemodynamic Alterations in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder and Their Effect on Resting-State fMRI Functional Connectivity. Schizophr Bull 2022; 48:695-711. [PMID: 34951473 PMCID: PMC9077436 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbab140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Common and distinct neural bases of Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) have been explored using resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) functional connectivity (FC). However, fMRI is an indirect measure of neural activity, which is a convolution of the hemodynamic response function (HRF) and latent neural activity. The HRF, which models neurovascular coupling, varies across the brain within and across individuals, and is altered in many psychiatric disorders. Given this background, this study had three aims: quantifying HRF aberrations in SZ and BP, measuring the impact of such HRF aberrations on FC group differences, and exploring the genetic basis of HRF aberrations. We estimated voxel-level HRFs by deconvolving rs-fMRI data obtained from SZ (N = 38), BP (N = 19), and matched healthy controls (N = 35). We identified HRF group differences (P < .05, FDR corrected) in many regions previously implicated in SZ/BP, with mediodorsal, habenular, and central lateral nuclei of the thalamus exhibiting HRF differences in all pairwise group comparisons. Thalamus seed-based FC analysis revealed that ignoring HRF variability results in false-positive and false-negative FC group differences, especially in insula, superior frontal, and lingual gyri. HRF was associated with DRD2 gene expression (P < .05, 1.62 < |Z| < 2.0), as well as with medication dose (P < .05, 1.75 < |Z| < 3.25). In this first study to report HRF aberrations in SZ and BP, we report the possible modulatory effect of dopaminergic signalling on HRF, and the impact that HRF variability can have on FC studies in clinical samples. To mitigate the impact of HRF variability on FC group differences, we suggest deconvolution during data preprocessing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Yan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, AU MRI Research Center, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
- Department of Information Management, School of E-business and Logistics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Peter F Liddle
- Centre for Translational Neuroimaging, Division of Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, UK
| | - D Rangaprakash
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Information Management, School of E-business and Logistics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
| | - Gopikrishna Deshpande
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, AU MRI Research Center, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
- Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium, Birmingham, AL
- Center for Neuroscience, Auburn University, AL, USA
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Learning and Cognition, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
- Centre for Brain Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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26
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Williams B, Roesch E, Christakou A. Systematic validation of an automated thalamic parcellation technique using anatomical data at 3T. Neuroimage 2022; 258:119340. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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27
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McKenna MC, Li Hi Shing S, Murad A, Lope J, Hardiman O, Hutchinson S, Bede P. Focal thalamus pathology in frontotemporal dementia: Phenotype-associated thalamic profiles. J Neurol Sci 2022; 436:120221. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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28
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Saranathan M, Iglehart C, Monti M, Tourdias T, Rutt B. In vivo high-resolution structural MRI-based atlas of human thalamic nuclei. Sci Data 2021; 8:275. [PMID: 34711852 PMCID: PMC8553748 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-021-01062-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Thalamic nuclei play critical roles in regulation of neurological functions like sleep and wakefulness. They are increasingly implicated in neurodegenerative and neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and essential tremor. However, segmentation of thalamic nuclei is difficult due to their poor visibility in conventional MRI scans. Sophisticated methods have been proposed which require specialized MRI acquisitions and complex post processing. There are few high spatial resolution (1 mm3 or higher) in vivo MRI thalamic atlases available currently. The goal of this work is the development of an in vivo MRI-based structural thalamic atlas at 0.7 × 0.7 × 0.5 mm resolution based on manual segmentation of 9 healthy subjects using the Morel atlas as a guide. Using data analysis from healthy subjects as well as patients with multiple-sclerosis and essential tremor and at 3T and 7T MRI, we demonstrate the utility of this atlas to provide fast and accurate segmentation of thalamic nuclei when only conventional T1 weighted images are available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles Iglehart
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Martin Monti
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Tourdias
- Service de Neuroimagerie Diagnostique et Thérapeutique, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Brian Rutt
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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29
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Kawabata K, Bagarinao E, Watanabe H, Maesawa S, Mori D, Hara K, Ohdake R, Masuda M, Ogura A, Kato T, Koyama S, Katsuno M, Wakabayashi T, Kuzuya M, Hoshiyama M, Isoda H, Naganawa S, Ozaki N, Sobue G. Bridging large-scale cortical networks: Integrative and function-specific hubs in the thalamus. iScience 2021; 24:103106. [PMID: 34622159 PMCID: PMC8479782 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The thalamus is critical for the brain's integrative hub functions; however, the localization and characterization of the different thalamic hubs remain unclear. Using a voxel-level network measure called functional connectivity overlap ratio (FCOR), we examined the thalamus' association with large-scale resting-state networks (RSNs) to elucidate its connector hub roles. Connections to the core-neurocognitive networks were localized in the anterior and medial parts, such as the anteroventral and mediodorsal nuclei areas. Regions functionally connected to the sensorimotor network were distinctively located around the lateral pulvinar nucleus but to a limited extent. Prominent connector hubs include the anteroventral, ventral lateral, and mediodorsal nuclei with functional connections to multiple RSNs. These findings suggest that the thalamus, with extensive connections to most of the RSNs, is well placed as a critical integrative functional hub and could play an important role for functional integration facilitating brain functions associated with primary processing and higher cognition. Multiple large-scale cortical networks converged in the thalamus Neurocognitive associated hub existed in the anterior and medial region Control-processing hub localized in the intermediate thalamus Sensorimotor network was located around the lateral pulvinar nucleus
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Kawabata
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Epifanio Bagarinao
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Watanabe
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Satoshi Maesawa
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hara
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Reiko Ohdake
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Michihito Masuda
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Aya Ogura
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Kato
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shuji Koyama
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Wakabayashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masafumi Kuzuya
- Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine and Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Minoru Hoshiyama
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Haruo Isoda
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shinji Naganawa
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
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30
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Kumar VJ, Scheffler K, Hagberg GE, Grodd W. Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping of the Basal Ganglia and Thalamus at 9.4 Tesla. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:725731. [PMID: 34602986 PMCID: PMC8483181 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.725731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The thalamus (Th) and basal ganglia (BG) are central subcortical connectivity hubs of the human brain, whose functional anatomy is still under intense investigation. Nevertheless, both substructures contain a robust and reproducible functional anatomy. The quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) at ultra-high field may facilitate an improved characterization of the underlying functional anatomy in vivo. We acquired high-resolution QSM data at 9.4 Tesla in 21 subjects, and analyzed the thalamic and BG by using a prior defined functional parcellation. We found a more substantial contribution of paramagnetic susceptibility sources such as iron in the pallidum in contrast to the caudate, putamen, and Th in descending order. The diamagnetic susceptibility sources such as myelin and calcium revealed significant contributions in the Th parcels compared with the BG. This study presents a detailed nuclei-specific delineation of QSM-provided diamagnetic and paramagnetic susceptibility sources pronounced in the BG and the Th. We also found a reasonable interindividual variability as well as slight hemispheric differences. The results presented here contribute to the microstructural knowledge of the Th and the BG. In specific, the study illustrates QSM values (myelin, calcium, and iron) in functionally similar subregions of the Th and the BG.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital and Eberhard-Karl's University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gisela E Hagberg
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital and Eberhard-Karl's University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Grodd
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
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31
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Boelens Keun JT, van Heese EM, Laansma MA, Weeland CJ, de Joode NT, van den Heuvel OA, Gool JK, Kasprzak S, Bright JK, Vriend C, van der Werf YD. Structural assessment of thalamus morphology in brain disorders: A review and recommendation of thalamic nucleus segmentation and shape analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:466-478. [PMID: 34587501 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The thalamus is a central brain structure crucially involved in cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions and is often reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The functional subdivision of the thalamus warrants morphological investigation on the level of individual subnuclei. In addition to volumetric measures, the investigation of other morphological features may give additional insights into thalamic morphology. For instance, shape features offer a higher spatial resolution by revealing small, regional differences that are left undetected in volumetric analyses. In this review, we discuss the benefits and limitations of recent advances in neuroimaging techniques to investigate thalamic morphology in vivo, leading to our proposed methodology. This methodology consists of available pipelines for volume and shape analysis, focussing on the morphological features of volume, thickness, and surface area. We demonstrate this combined approach in a Parkinson's disease cohort to illustrate their complementarity. Considering our findings, we recommend a combined methodology as it allows for more sensitive investigation of thalamic morphology in clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jikke T Boelens Keun
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva M van Heese
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Max A Laansma
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cees J Weeland
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Niels T de Joode
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Odile A van den Heuvel
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jari K Gool
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; SEIN, Heemstede, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology, LUMC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Selina Kasprzak
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joanna K Bright
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Chris Vriend
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ysbrand D van der Werf
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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32
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The specificity of thalamic alterations in Korsakoff's syndrome: Implications for the study of amnesia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:292-300. [PMID: 34454914 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The pathophysiological mechanisms behind amnesia are still unknown. Recent literature, through the study of patients with Alcohol Use Disorder with and without Korsakoff's syndrome, increasingly shows that physiological alterations to the thalamus have an important role in the development of amnesia. This review gives an overview of neuropsychological, neuropathological and neuroimaging contributions to the understanding of Korsakoff's syndrome, highlighting the central role of the thalamus in this amnesia. The thalamus being a multi-nucleus structure, the limitations regarding the loci, nature and alterations to specific nuclei are discussed, along with potential solutions. Finally, future directions for clinical research are laid out to unravel the intricacies inherent to amnesia. They consider the need to evaluate the physiological role of the thalamus, not only as an entity but also as part of a brain circuit through a more integrative approach.
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33
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Basile GA, Bertino S, Bramanti A, Ciurleo R, Anastasi GP, Milardi D, Cacciola A. In Vivo Super-Resolution Track-Density Imaging for Thalamic Nuclei Identification. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:5613-5636. [PMID: 34296740 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of novel techniques for the in vivo, non-invasive visualization and identification of thalamic nuclei has represented a major challenge for human neuroimaging research in the last decades. Thalamic nuclei have important implications in various key aspects of brain physiology and many of them show selective alterations in various neurologic and psychiatric disorders. In addition, both surgical stimulation and ablation of specific thalamic nuclei have been proven to be useful for the treatment of different neuropsychiatric diseases. The present work aimed at describing a novel protocol for histologically guided delineation of thalamic nuclei based on short-tracks track-density imaging (stTDI), which is an advanced imaging technique exploiting high angular resolution diffusion tractography to obtain super-resolved white matter maps. We demonstrated that this approach can identify up to 13 distinct thalamic nuclei bilaterally with very high inter-subject (ICC: 0.996, 95% CI: 0.993-0.998) and inter-rater (ICC:0.981; 95% CI:0.963-0.989) reliability, and that both subject-based and group-level thalamic parcellation show a fair share of similarity to a recent standard-space histological thalamic atlas. Finally, we showed that stTDI-derived thalamic maps can be successfully employed to study structural and functional connectivity of the thalamus and may have potential implications both for basic and translational research, as well as for presurgical planning purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianpaolo Antonio Basile
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Bertino
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessia Bramanti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Medical School of Salerno", University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Rosella Ciurleo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pio Anastasi
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Demetrio Milardi
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Alberto Cacciola
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
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Kark SM, Birnie MT, Baram TZ, Yassa MA. Functional Connectivity of the Human Paraventricular Thalamic Nucleus: Insights From High Field Functional MRI. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:662293. [PMID: 33967711 PMCID: PMC8096909 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.662293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is a small but highly connected nucleus of the dorsal midline thalamus. The PVT has garnered recent attention as a context-sensitive node within the thalamocortical arousal system that modulates state-dependent motivated behaviors. Once considered related to generalized arousal responses with non-specific impacts on behavior, accumulating evidence bolsters the contemporary view that discrete midline thalamic subnuclei belong to specialized corticolimbic and corticostriatal circuits related to attention, emotions, and cognition. However, the functional connectivity patterns of the human PVT have yet to be mapped. Here, we combined high-quality, high-resolution 7T and 3T resting state MRI data from 121 young adult participants from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) and thalamic subnuclei atlas masks to investigate resting state functional connectivity of the human PVT. The 7T results demonstrated extensive positive functional connectivity with the brainstem, midbrain, ventral and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior and posterior cingulate, ventral striatum, hippocampus, and amygdala. These connections persist upon controlling for functional connectivity of the rest of the thalamus. Whole-brain contrasts provided further evidence that, compared to three nearby midline thalamic subnuclei, functional connectivity of the PVT is strong with the hippocampus, amygdala, ventral and dorsal mPFC, and middle temporal gyrus. These findings suggest that, even during rest, the human PVT is functionally coupled with many regions known to be structurally connected to rodent and non-human primate PVT. Further, cosine similarity analysis results suggested the PVT is integrated into the default mode network (DMN), an intrinsic connectivity network associated with episodic memory and self-referential thought. The current work provides a much-needed foundation for ongoing and future work examining the functional roles of the PVT in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Kark
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Matthew T. Birnie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Tallie Z. Baram
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Michael A. Yassa
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Cassel JC, Pereira de Vasconcelos A. Routes of the thalamus through the history of neuroanatomy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:442-465. [PMID: 33676963 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The most distant roots of neuroanatomy trace back to antiquity, with the first human dissections, but no document which would identify the thalamus as a brain structure has reached us. Claudius Galenus (Galen) gave to the thalamus the name 'thalamus nervorum opticorum', but later on, other names were used (e.g., anchae, or buttocks-like). In 1543, Andreas Vesalius provided the first quality illustrations of the thalamus. During the 19th century, tissue staining techniques and ablative studies contributed to the breakdown of the thalamus into subregions and nuclei. The next step was taken using radiomarkers to identify connections in the absence of lesions. Anterograde and retrograde tracing methods arose in the late 1960s, supporting extension, revision, or confirmation of previously established knowledge. The use of the first viral tracers introduced a new methodological breakthrough in the mid-1970s. Another important step was supported by advances in neuroimaging of the thalamus in the 21th century. The current review follows the history of the thalamus through these technical revolutions from Antiquity to the present day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Cassel
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Anne Pereira de Vasconcelos
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; LNCA, UMR 7364 - CNRS, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
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Honnorat N, Saranathan M, Sullivan EV, Pfefferbaum A, Pohl KM, Zahr NM. Performance ramifications of abnormal functional connectivity of ventral posterior lateral thalamus with cerebellum in abstinent individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 220:108509. [PMID: 33453503 PMCID: PMC7889734 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The extant literature supports the involvement of the thalamus in the cognitive and motor impairment associated with chronic alcohol consumption, but clear structure/function relationships remain elusive. Alcohol effects on specific nuclei rather than the entire thalamus may provide the basis for differential cognitive and motor decline in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This functional MRI (fMRI) study was conducted in 23 abstinent individuals with AUD and 27 healthy controls to test the hypothesis that functional connectivity between anterior thalamus and hippocampus would be compromised in those with an AUD diagnosis and related to mnemonic deficits. Functional connectivity between 7 thalamic structures [5 thalamic nuclei: anterior ventral (AV), mediodorsal (MD), pulvinar (Pul), ventral lateral posterior (VLP), and ventral posterior lateral (VPL); ventral thalamus; the entire thalamus] and 14 "functional regions" was evaluated. Relative to controls, the AUD group exhibited different VPL-based functional connectivity: an anticorrelation between VPL and a bilateral middle temporal lobe region observed in controls became a positive correlation in the AUD group; an anticorrelation between the VPL and the cerebellum was stronger in the AUD than control group. AUD-associated altered connectivity between anterior thalamus and hippocampus as a substrate of memory compromise was not supported; instead, connectivity differences from controls selective to VPL and cerebellum demonstrated a relationship with impaired balance. These preliminary findings support substructure-level evaluation in future studies focused on discerning the role of the thalamus in AUD-associated cognitive and motor deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Honnorat
- Neuroscience Program, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
| | - Manojkumar Saranathan
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
| | - Edith V Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Neuroscience Program, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Kilian M Pohl
- Neuroscience Program, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Natalie M Zahr
- Neuroscience Program, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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Zhou K, Zhu L, Hou G, Chen X, Chen B, Yang C, Zhu Y. The Contribution of Thalamic Nuclei in Salience Processing. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:634618. [PMID: 33664657 PMCID: PMC7920982 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.634618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain continuously receives diverse information about the external environment and changes in the homeostatic state. The attribution of salience determines which stimuli capture attention and, therefore, plays an essential role in regulating emotions and guiding behaviors. Although the thalamus is included in the salience network, the neural mechanism of how the thalamus contributes to salience processing remains elusive. In this mini-review, we will focus on recent advances in understanding the specific roles of distinct thalamic nuclei in salience processing. We will summarize the functional connections between thalamus nuclei and other key nodes in the salience network. We will highlight the convergence of neural circuits involved in reward and pain processing, arousal, and attention control in thalamic structures. We will discuss how thalamic activities represent salience information in associative learning and how thalamic neurons modulate adaptive behaviors. Lastly, we will review recent studies which investigate the contribution of thalamic dysfunction to aberrant salience processing in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as drug addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia. Based on emerging evidence from both human and rodent research, we propose that the thalamus, different from previous studies that as an information relay, has a broader role in coordinating the cognitive process and regulating emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuikui Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guoqiang Hou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xueyu Chen
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chuanzhong Yang
- Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
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Xia JD, Chen F, Zhang QJ, Wang YM, Dai YT, Song NH, Wang ZJ, Zhang B, Yang J. Abnormal Thalamic Metabolism in Patients With Lifelong Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med 2020; 18:275-283. [PMID: 33358559 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although some recent neuroimaging studies have indicated the abnormal brain structure or function in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE), whether and how the abnormal thalamic function participates in processing sexual behavioral information are still unclear in patients with LPE. AIM The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the thalamus metabolism and structural integrity in patients with LPE. METHODS We performed a multimodal magnetic resonance approach in a 3.0 T system, including proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), diffusion tensor imaging, and volumetric analysis to detect the differences in thalamic metabolism and structure between 20 patients with LPE and 15 healthy controls. OUTCOMES We analyzed and correlated the clinical symptoms of the subjects with significant 1H-MRS-based features. Peak areas of N-acetylaspartate, choline, creatine (Cr), and glutamate/glutamine (Glu) were calculated with the LCModel software. RESULTS Diffusion tensor imaging and volumetric analysis of thalami showed no differences between the 2 groups. On the contrary, 1H-MRS study disclosed that both Glu concentrations and Glu/Cr ratio values in the thalami of patients with LPE were remarkably increased when compared with healthy controls (P < .01 for both variables). In addition, both the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time score and Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation-5 score were negatively related to increased Glu concentrations and Glu/Cr ratio values. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Glutamatergic activity changes of thalamus may be an underlying indicator for evaluating sensory conduction efficiency in patients with LPE. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS The present study first found the abnormal thalamic metabolism in patients with LPE and contributed to a better understanding of the LPE etiology. Limitations include a cross-sectional study design with small samples and no examination of other brain areas. CONCLUSION Our findings show that the increase in glutamatergic activity of thalamus is related to LPE, suggesting that the increased Glu neurotransmission in the thalamus may contribute to the development of premature ejaculation. Xia J-D, Chen F, Zhang Q-J, et al. Abnormal Thalamic Metabolism in Patients With Lifelong Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med 2021;18:275-283.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Dong Xia
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qi-Jie Zhang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ya-Min Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Tian Dai
- Department of Andrology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ning-Hong Song
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zeng-Jun Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Bielski K, Adamus S, Kolada E, Rączaszek-Leonardi J, Szatkowska I. Parcellation of the human amygdala using recurrence quantification analysis. Neuroimage 2020; 227:117644. [PMID: 33338610 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Several previous attempts have been made to divide the human amygdala into smaller subregions based on the unique functional properties of the subregions. Although these attempts have provided valuable insight into the functional heterogeneity in this structure, the possibility that spatial patterns of functional characteristics can quickly change over time has rarely been considered in previous studies. In the present study, we explicitly account for the dynamic nature of amygdala activity. Our goal was not only to develop another parcellation method but also to augment existing methods with novel information about amygdala subdivisions. We performed state-specific amygdala parcellation using resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) data and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA). RsfMRI data from 102 subjects were acquired with a 3T Trio Siemens scanner. We analyzed values of several RQA measures across all voxels in the amygdala and found two amygdala subdivisions, the ventrolateral (VL) and dorsomedial (DM) subdivisions, that differ with respect to one of the RQA measures, Shannon's entropy of diagonal lines. Compared to the DM subdivision, the VL subdivision can be characterized by a higher value of entropy. The results suggest that VL activity is determined and influenced by more brain structures than is DM activity. To assess the biological validity of the obtained subdivisions, we compared them with histological atlases and currently available parcellations based on structural connectivity patterns (Anatomy Probability Maps) and cytoarchitectonic features (SPM Anatomy toolbox). Moreover, we examined their cortical and subcortical functional connectivity. The obtained results are similar to those previously reported on parcellation performed on the basis of structural connectivity patterns. Functional connectivity analysis revealed that the VL subdivision has strong connections to several cortical areas, whereas the DM subdivision is mainly connected to subcortical regions. This finding suggests that the VL subdivision corresponds to the basolateral subdivision of the amygdala (BLA), while the DM subdivision has some characteristics typical of the centromedial amygdala (CMA). The similarity in functional connectivity patterns between the VL subdivision and BLA, as well as between the DM subdivision and CMA, confirm the utility of our parcellation method. Overall, the study shows that parcellation based on BOLD signal dynamics is a powerful tool for identifying distinct functional systems within the amygdala. This tool might be useful for future research on functional brain organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Bielski
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY - Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sylwia Adamus
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY - Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Emilia Kolada
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY - Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Iwona Szatkowska
- Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, BRAINCITY - Centre of Excellence for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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Thalamic Functional Connectivity during Spatial Long-Term Memory and the Role of Sex. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120898. [PMID: 33255156 PMCID: PMC7761215 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The thalamus has been implicated in many cognitive processes, including long-term memory. More specifically, the anterior (AT) and mediodorsal (MD) thalamic nuclei have been associated with long-term memory. Despite extensive mapping of the anatomical connections between these nuclei and other brain regions, little is known regarding their functional connectivity during long-term memory. The current study sought to determine which brain regions are functionally connected to AT and MD during spatial long-term memory and whether sex differences exist in the patterns of connectivity. During encoding, abstract shapes were presented to the left and right of fixation. During retrieval, shapes were presented at fixation, and participants made an “old-left” or “old-right” judgment. Activations functionally connected to AT and MD existed in regions with known anatomical connections to each nucleus as well as in a broader network of long-term memory regions. Sex differences were identified in a subset of these regions. A targeted region-of-interest analysis identified anti-correlated activity between MD and the hippocampus that was specific to females, which is consistent with findings in rodents. The current results suggest that AT and MD play key roles during spatial long-term memory and suggest that these functions may be sex specific.
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Barlati S, Minelli A, Ceraso A, Nibbio G, Carvalho Silva R, Deste G, Turrina C, Vita A. Social Cognition in a Research Domain Criteria Perspective: A Bridge Between Schizophrenia and Autism Spectra Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:806. [PMID: 33005149 PMCID: PMC7485015 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia and autism spectra disorders are currently conceptualized as distinct clinical categories. However, the relationship between these two nosological entities has been revisited in recent years due to the evidence that they share some important clinical and neurobiological features, putting into question the nature and the extent of their commonalities and differences. In this respect, some core symptoms that are present in both disorders, such as social cognitive deficits, could be a primary target of investigation. This review briefly summarizes the commonalities and overlapping features between schizophrenia and autism spectra disorders in social cognitive functions, considering this construct in a Research Domain Criteria perspective. The clinical manifestation of deficits in social cognition are similar in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and autism spectrum disorders, and brain areas that appear to be altered in relation to these impairments are largely shared; however, the results of various studies suggest that, in some cases, the qualitative nature of these alterations may be different in the two spectra. Moreover, relevant differences could be present at the level of brain networks and connections. More research is required in this field, regarding molecular and genetic aspects of both spectra, to better define the neurobiological mechanisms involved in social cognition deficits, with the objective of developing specific and targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Barlati
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Minelli
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Ceraso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Nibbio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rosana Carvalho Silva
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Deste
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cesare Turrina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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The anterior and medial thalamic nuclei and the human limbic system: tracing the structural connectivity using diffusion-weighted imaging. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10957. [PMID: 32616764 PMCID: PMC7331724 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67770-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The limbic system is a phylogenetically old, behaviorally defined system that serves as a center for emotions. It controls the expression of anger, fear, and joy and also influences sexual behavior, vegetative functions, and memory. The system comprises a collection of tel-, di-, and mesencephalic structures whose components have evolved and increased over time. Previous animal research indicates that the anterior nuclear group of the thalamus (ANT), as well as the habenula (Hb) and the adjacent mediodorsal nucleus (MD) each play a vital role in the limbic circuitry. Accordingly, diffusion imaging data of 730 subjects obtained from the Human Connectome Project and the masks of six nuclei (anterodorsal, anteromedial, anteroventral, lateral dorsal, Hb, and MD) served as seed regions for a direct probabilistic tracking to the rest of the brain using diffusion-weighted imaging. The results revealed that the ANT nuclei are part of the limbic and the memory system as they mainly connect via the mammillary tract, mammillary body, anterior commissure, fornix, and retrosplenial cortices to the hippocampus, amygdala, medio-temporal, orbito-frontal and occipital cortices. Furthermore, the ANT nuclei showed connections to the mesencephalon and brainstem to varying extents, a pattern rarely described in experimental findings. The habenula—usually defined as part of the epithalamus—was closely connected to the tectum opticum and seems to serve as a neuroanatomical hub between the visual and the limbic system, brainstem, and cerebellum. Finally, in contrast to experimental findings with tracer studies, directly determined connections of MD were mainly confined to the brainstem, while indirect MD fibers form a broad pathway connecting the hippocampus and medio-temporal areas with the mediofrontal cortex.
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Tanaka M, Osada T, Ogawa A, Kamagata K, Aoki S, Konishi S. Dissociable Networks of the Lateral/Medial Mammillary Body in the Human Brain. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:228. [PMID: 32625073 PMCID: PMC7316159 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammillary body (MB) has been thought to implement mnemonic functions. Although recent animal studies have revealed dissociable roles of the lateral and medial parts of the MB, the dissociable roles of the lateral/medial MB in the human brain is still unclear. Functional connectivity using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides a unique opportunity to noninvasively inspect the intricate functional organization of the human MB with a high degree of spatial resolution. The present study divided the human MB into lateral and medial parts and examined their functional connectivity with the hippocampal formation, tegmental nuclei, and anterior thalamus. The subiculum of the hippocampal formation was more strongly connected with the medial part than with the lateral part of the MB, whereas the pre/parasubiculum was more strongly connected with the lateral part than with the medial part of the MB. The dorsal tegmental nucleus was connected more strongly with the lateral part of the MB, whereas the ventral tegmental nucleus showed an opposite pattern. The anterior thalamus was connected more strongly with the medial part of the MB. These results confirm the extant animal literature on the lateral/medial MB and provide evidence on the parallel but dissociable systems involving the MB that ascribe mnemonic and spatial-navigation functions to the medial and lateral MBs, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Tanaka
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Osada
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Ogawa
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Kamagata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiki Konishi
- Department of Neurophysiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Sportology Center, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Advanced Research Institute for Health Science, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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44
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A systematic comparison of structural-, structural connectivity-, and functional connectivity-based thalamus parcellation techniques. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:1631-1642. [PMID: 32440784 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02085-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The thalamus consists of several histologically and functionally distinct nuclei increasingly implicated in brain pathology and important for treatment, motivating the need for development of fast and accurate thalamic parcellation. The contrast between thalamic nuclei as well as between the thalamus and surrounding tissues is poor in T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), inhibiting efforts to date to segment the thalamus using standard clinical MRI. Automatic parcellation techniques have been developed to leverage thalamic features better captured by advanced MRI methods, including magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MP-RAGE), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI). Despite operating on fundamentally different image contrasts, these methods claim a high degree of agreement with the Morel stereotactic atlas of the thalamus. However, no comparison has been undertaken to compare the results of these disparate parcellation methods. We have implemented state-of-the-art structural-, diffusion-, and functional imaging-based thalamus parcellation techniques and used them on a single set of subjects. We present the first systematic qualitative and quantitative comparison of these methods. The results show that DTI parcellation agrees more with structural parcellation in the larger thalamic nuclei, while rsfMRI parcellation agrees more with structural parcellation in the smaller nuclei. Structural parcellation is the most accurate in the delineation of small structures such as the habenular, antero-ventral, and medial geniculate nuclei.
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45
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Gravbrot N, Saranathan M, Pouratian N, Kasoff W. Advanced Imaging and Direct Targeting of the Motor Thalamus and Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract for Tremor: A Systematic Review. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2020; 98:220-240. [DOI: 10.1159/000507030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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46
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Different Degree Centrality Changes in the Brain after Acupuncture on Contralateral or Ipsilateral Acupoint in Patients with Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Resting-State fMRI Study. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:5701042. [PMID: 32377180 PMCID: PMC7197008 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5701042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic shoulder pain (CSP) is the third most common musculoskeletal problem. For maximum treatment effectiveness, most acupuncturists usually choose acupoint in the nonpainful side, to alleviate pain or improve shoulder function. This method is named opposite needling, which means acupuncture points on the right side are selected for diseases on the left side and vice versa. However, the underlying neural mechanisms related to treatment are currently unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether different mechanisms were observed with contralateral and ipsilateral acupuncture at Tiaokou (ST 38) in patients with unilateral CSP. Twenty-four patients were randomized to the contralateral acupuncture group (contra-group) and the ipsilateral acupuncture group (ipsi-group). The patients received one acupuncture treatment session at ST 38 on the nonpainful or painful sides, respectively. Before and after acupuncture treatment, they underwent functional magnetic resonance scanning. The treatment-related changes in degree centrality (DC) maps were compared between the two groups. We found alleviated pain and improved shoulder function in both groups, but better shoulder functional improvement was observed in the contra-group. Increased DC in the anterior/paracingulate cortex and decreased DC in bilateral postcentral gyri were found in the contra-group, while decreased DC in the bilateral cerebellum and right thalamus was observed in the ipsi-group. Furthermore, the DC value in the bilateral anterior/paracingulate cortex was positively correlated with the treatment-related change in the Constant–Murley score. The current study reveals different changes of DC patterns after acupuncture at contralateral or ipsilateral ST 38 in patients with CSP. Our findings support the hypothesis of acupoint specificity and provide the evidence for acupuncturists to select acupoints for CSP.
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47
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Shen J, Li DL, Tan XX, Tao WW, Xie CJ, Shi XG, Wang Y. A transcranial sonography study of brainstem and its association with depression in idiopathic generalized epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 102:106589. [PMID: 31726317 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Brainstem raphe (BR) hypoechogenicity in transcranial sonography (TCS) has been depicted in patients with depression. But, up to date, the association of BR alterations in TCS with depression in patients with epilepsy has never been reported. This study was to investigate the possible role of BR examination via TCS in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures (IGE-TCS) and depression. Forty-six patients with IGE-TCS and 45 healthy controls were recruited. Echogenicity of the caudate nuclei (CN), lentiform nuclei (LN), substantia nigra (SN), and BR and widths of the lateral ventricle (LV) frontal horns and the third ventricle (TV) were assessed via TCS. The determination of depression was based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV), and depression severity measured by Chinese version Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (C-NDDI-E) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The width of TV in patients with epilepsy was found significantly larger than that in healthy controls (p = 0.001), but there was no significant difference in TV width between patients with IGE-TCS with and without depression. There were no significant differences between patients with IGE-TCS and healthy controls in LV frontal horn width, as well as in SN, CN, LN, and BR echogenicity. Here, it seems that patients with IGE-TCS were detected with smaller SN echogenic area compared with controls though they had no statistical significance. Patients with IGE-TCS with hypoechogenic BR had significantly higher C-NDDI-E and BDI-II scores than those with normal BR signal, and most patients with IGE-TCS with depression exhibited hypoechogenic BR, but few patients with IGE-TCS without depression exhibited hypoechogenic BR. In conclusion, BR echogenic signal alterations in TCS can be a biomarker for depression in epilepsy, but it might not be associated with epilepsy itself. The alterations of SN echogenic area and TV width in TCS may reflect a potential role of SN and diencephalon structure in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, which needs to be further elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Shen
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy and Headache Group, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Dong-Lin Li
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy and Headache Group, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Tan
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy and Headache Group, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Wei-Wei Tao
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy and Headache Group, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Cheng-Juan Xie
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy and Headache Group, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xue-Gong Shi
- Department of Echocardiography, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy and Headache Group, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China; Department of Neurology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Huaihai Avenue 100, Hefei 230000, China.
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48
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Quantification of thalamic nuclei in patients diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis. Neuroradiology 2019; 62:185-195. [DOI: 10.1007/s00234-019-02299-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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49
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Berndt M, Bäuml JG, Menegaux A, Meng C, Daamen M, Baumann N, Zimmer C, Boecker H, Bartmann P, Wolke D, Sorg C. Impaired structural connectivity between dorsal attention network and pulvinar mediates the impact of premature birth on adult visual-spatial abilities. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:4058-4071. [PMID: 31179600 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The dorsal attention network (DAN), including frontal eye fields and posterior parietal cortices, and its link with the posterior thalamus, contribute to visual-spatial abilities. Very premature birth impairs both visual-spatial abilities and cortico-thalamic structural connectivity. We hypothesized that impaired structural DAN-pulvinar connectivity mediates the effect of very premature birth on adult visual-spatial abilities. Seventy very premature (median age 26.6 years) and 57 mature born adults (median age 26.6 years) were assessed with cognitive tests and diffusion tensor imaging. Perceptual organization (PO) index of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III was used as a proxy for visual-spatial abilities, and connection probability maps in the thalamus, derived from probabilistic tractography from the DAN, were used as a proxy for DAN-thalamic connectivity. Premature born adults showed decreases in both PO-index and connection probability from DAN into the pulvinar, with both changes being positively correlated. Moreover, path analysis revealed that DAN-pulvinar connectivity mediates the relationship between very premature birth and PO-index. Results provide evidence for long-term effects of very premature birth on structural DAN-pulvinar connectivity, mediating the effect of prematurity on adult visual-spatial impairments. Data suggest DAN-pulvinar connectivity as a specific target of prognostic and diagnostic procedures for visual-spatial abilities after premature birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Berndt
- Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.,TUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Josef G Bäuml
- Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.,TUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Aurore Menegaux
- Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.,TUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Chun Meng
- TUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.,Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marcel Daamen
- Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nicole Baumann
- Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Claus Zimmer
- Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Henning Boecker
- Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Bartmann
- Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dieter Wolke
- Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.,Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Christian Sorg
- Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.,TUM-NIC Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München
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50
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Mai JK, Majtanik M. Toward a Common Terminology for the Thalamus. Front Neuroanat 2019; 12:114. [PMID: 30687023 PMCID: PMC6336698 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The wealth of competing parcellations with limited cross-correspondence between atlases of the human thalamus raises problems in a time when the usefulness of neuroanatomical methods is increasingly appreciated for modern computational analyses of the brain. An unequivocal nomenclature is, however, compulsory for the understanding of the organization of the thalamus. This situation cannot be improved by renewed discussion but with implementation of neuroinformatics tools. We adopted a new volumetric approach to characterize the significant subdivisions and determined the relationships between the parcellation schemes of nine most influential atlases of the human thalamus. The volumes of each atlas were 3d-reconstructed and spatially registered to the standard MNI/ICBM2009b reference volume of the Human Brain Atlas in the MNI (Montreal Neurological Institute) space (Mai and Majtanik, 2017). This normalization of the individual thalamus shapes allowed for the comparison of the nuclear regions delineated by the different authors. Quantitative cross-comparisons revealed the extent of predictability of territorial borders for 11 area clusters. In case of discordant parcellations we re-analyzed the underlying histological features and the original descriptions. The final scheme of the spatial organization provided the frame for the selected terms for the subdivisions of the human thalamus using on the (modified) terminology of the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology (FIPAT). Waiving of exact individual definition of regional boundaries in favor of the statistical representation within the open MNI platform provides the common and objective (standardized) ground to achieve concordance between results from different sources (microscopy, imaging etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen K. Mai
- Institute for Anatomy, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Milan Majtanik
- Institute of Informatics, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
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