Thalamocortical Connectivity and Microstructural Changes in Congenital and Late Blindness
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Thalamocortical Connectivity and Microstructural Changes in Congenital and Late Blindness. / Reislev, N. H.; Dyrby, T. B.; Siebner, H. R.; Lundell, H.; Ptito, M.; Kupers, R.
I: Neural Plasticity, Bind 2017, 9807512, 2017.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Thalamocortical Connectivity and Microstructural Changes in Congenital and Late Blindness
AU - Reislev, N. H.
AU - Dyrby, T. B.
AU - Siebner, H. R.
AU - Lundell, H.
AU - Ptito, M.
AU - Kupers, R.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - There is ample evidence that the occipital cortex of congenitally blind individuals processes nonvisual information. It remains a debate whether the cross-modal activation of the occipital cortex is mediated through the modulation of preexisting corticocortical projections or the reorganisation of thalamocortical connectivity. Current knowledge on this topic largely stems from anatomical studies in animal models. The aim of this study was to test whether purported changes in thalamocortical connectivity in blindness can be revealed by tractography based on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. To assess the thalamocortical network, we used a clustering method based on the thalamic white matter projections towards predefined cortical regions. Five thalamic clusters were obtained in each group representing their cortical projections. Although we did not find differences in the thalamocortical network between congenitally blind individuals, late blind individuals, and normal sighted controls, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices revealed significant microstructural changes within thalamic clusters of both blind groups. Furthermore, we find a significant decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA) in occipital and temporal thalamocortical projections in both blind groups that were not captured at the network level. This suggests that plastic microstructural changes have taken place, but not in a degree to be reflected in the tractography-based thalamocortical network.
AB - There is ample evidence that the occipital cortex of congenitally blind individuals processes nonvisual information. It remains a debate whether the cross-modal activation of the occipital cortex is mediated through the modulation of preexisting corticocortical projections or the reorganisation of thalamocortical connectivity. Current knowledge on this topic largely stems from anatomical studies in animal models. The aim of this study was to test whether purported changes in thalamocortical connectivity in blindness can be revealed by tractography based on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. To assess the thalamocortical network, we used a clustering method based on the thalamic white matter projections towards predefined cortical regions. Five thalamic clusters were obtained in each group representing their cortical projections. Although we did not find differences in the thalamocortical network between congenitally blind individuals, late blind individuals, and normal sighted controls, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices revealed significant microstructural changes within thalamic clusters of both blind groups. Furthermore, we find a significant decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA) in occipital and temporal thalamocortical projections in both blind groups that were not captured at the network level. This suggests that plastic microstructural changes have taken place, but not in a degree to be reflected in the tractography-based thalamocortical network.
U2 - 10.1155/2017/9807512
DO - 10.1155/2017/9807512
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28386486
AN - SCOPUS:85016630731
VL - 2017
JO - Neural Plasticity
JF - Neural Plasticity
SN - 2090-5904
M1 - 9807512
ER -
ID: 188741976