Diffusion Tensor Imaging Investigation of Uncinate Fasciculus Anatomy in Healthy Controls: Description of a Subgenual Stem

Bhatia, Kartik; Henderson, Luke A.; Yim, Mark; Hsu, Eugene; Dhaliwal, Rajiv

doi:10.1159/000485111

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Anatomically, the uncinate fasciculus is a U-shaped, fanning white matter bundle with complex structure (Ebeling and von Cramon, 1992;Bhatia et al, 2012Bhatia et al, , 2017Bhatia et al, , 2018Riva-Posse et al, 2014;Vergani et al, 2016) and a number of termination points in the medial temporal lobes (Ebeling and von Cramon, 1992;Thiebaut de Schotten et al, 2012;Von Der Heide et al, 2013). It has only recently been visualized using Q-space imaging methods that model the U-shaped uncus and orbitofrontal cortex branching and turning patterns (Leng et al, 2016;Bhatia et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aberrant Maturation of the Uncinate Fasciculus Follows Exposure to Unpredictable Patterns of Maternal Signals

et al. 2020

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Across species, unpredictable patterns of maternal behavior are emerging as novel predictors of aberrant cognitive and emotional outcomes later in life. In animal models, exposure to unpredictable patterns of maternal behavior alters brain circuit maturation and cognitive and emotional outcomes. However, whether exposure to such signals in humans alters the development of brain pathways is unknown. In mother-child dyads, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to more unpredictable maternal signals in infancy is associated with aberrant maturation of corticolimbic pathways. We focused on the uncinate fasciculus, the primary fiber bundle connecting the amygdala to the orbitofrontal cortex and a key component of the medial temporal lobe-prefrontal cortex circuit. Infant exposure to unpredictable maternal sensory signals was assessed at 6 and 12 months. Using high angular resolution diffusion imaging, we quantified the integrity of the uncinate fasciculus using generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA). Higher maternal unpredictability during infancy presaged greater uncinate fasciculus GFA in children 9-11 years of age (n = 69, 29 female). In contrast to the uncinate, GFA of a second corticolimbic projection, the hippocampal cingulum, was not associated with maternal unpredictability. Addressing the overall functional significance of the uncinate and cingulum relationships, we found that the resulting imbalance of medial temporal lobe-prefrontal cortex connectivity partially mediated the association between unpredictable maternal sensory signals and impaired episodic memory function. These results suggest that unbalanced maturation of corticolimbic circuits is a mechanism by which early unpredictable sensory signals may impact cognition later in life. Significance StatementOur prior work across species demonstrated that unpredictable patterns of maternal care are associated with compromised memory function. However, the neurobiological mechanisms by which this occurs in humans remain unknown. Here, we identify an association of exposure to unpredictable patterns of maternal sensory signals with the integrity of corticolimbic circuits involved in emotion and cognition using state-of-the-art diffusion imaging techniques and analyses. We find that exposure to early unpredictability is associated with higher integrity of the uncinate fasciculus with no effect on a second corticolimbic pathway, the cingulum. The resulting imbalance of corticolimbic circuit development is a novel mediator of the association between unpredictable patterns of maternal care and poorer episodic memory.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aberrant Maturation of the Uncinate Fasciculus Follows Exposure to Unpredictable Patterns of Maternal Signals

et al. 2020

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“…In the present study, a right UNC parameter demonstrated a moderate correlation with sensory sensitivity–auditory. The UNC not only connects the orbitofrontal cortex and temporal lobe anatomically, but also is considered the key pathway associated with episodic memory, language, and social emotional processing 43 , 44 . A recent meta-analysis of 25 DTI-based studies indicated that individuals with ASD showed decreased FA in the UNC, thus supporting the theory of specific underconnectivity in patients with ASD who show difficulty in social auditory information and language processing 45 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elucidation of the relationship between sensory processing and white matter using diffusion tensor imaging tractography in young adults

Shiotsu

Jung

Habata

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Sensory processing and behaviors are altered during the development of connectivity between the sensory cortices and multiple brain regions in an experience-dependent manner. To reveal the relationship between sensory processing and brain white matter, we investigated the association between the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and neural connectivity in the white matter tracts of 84 healthy young adults using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We observed a positive relationship between AASP scores (i.e., sensory sensitivity, sensation avoiding, activity level)/subscores (i.e., sensory sensitivity–activity level, sensation avoiding–touch) and DTI parameters in the cingulum–cingulate gyrus bundle (CCG) and between AASP subscores (i.e., sensory sensitivity–auditory) and a diffusion parameter in the uncinate fasciculus (UNC). The diffusion parameters that correlated with AASP scores/subscores and AASP quadrant scores (i.e., sensory avoiding and sensitivity) were axonal diffusivity (AD) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the CCG and MD in the UNC. Moreover, the increased sensory avoiding and sensitivity scores represent the sensitization of sensory processing, and the level of diffusivity parameters indicates white matter microstructure variability, such as axons and myelin from diffusivity of water molecules. Thus, the present study suggests that the CCG and UNC are critical white matter microstructures for determining the level of sensory processing in young adults.

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“…Several studies have linked lower FA values in the left UF with negative symptoms in schizophrenia, and this pattern was not seen in patients with non-deficit schizophrenia [ 25 , 26 ]. Bahatia et al demonstrated a reduction in white matter integrity of the UF, which may translate to risk of mental disorders such as first-onset and chronic depression [ 9 ]. However, these studies are not equivocal because some researchers have reported an increase or no change in the FA values and indicate a small share of the bundle in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The UF is also known as a ‘hook-shaped’ fascicle connecting the prefrontal cortex and the anteromedial temporal lobe. The traditional anatomical description outlines a temporal stem that hooks around the posterior insula, a subinsular body, and two prefrontal stems that extend to the lateral orbital gyri and the frontopolar cortex [ 9 ]. The UF interconnects regions that support acoustic memory, visual information, and emotional responses [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tractography-Based Analysis of Morphological and Anatomical Characteristics of the Uncinate Fasciculus in Human Brains

et al. 2020

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(1) Background: The uncinate fasciculus (UF) is a white matter bundle connecting the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe. The functional role of the uncinate fasciculus is still uncertain. The role of the UF is attributed to the emotional empathy network. The present study aimed to more accurately the describe anatomical variability of the UF by focusing on the volume of fibers and testing for correlations with sex and age. (2) Material and Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging of adult patients with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed on 34 patients. The total number of fibers, volume of UF, and number of tracts were processed using DSI studio software. The DSI studio allows for mapping of different nerve pathways and visualizing of the obtained results using spatial graphics. (3) Results: The total number of UF tracts was significantly higher in the right hemisphere compared to the left hemisphere (right M ± SD = 52 ± 24; left: 39 ± 25, p < 0.05). A hook-shaped UF was the most common variant (91.7%). The UF volumes were larger in men (1410 ± 150.7 mm3) as compared to women (1325 ± 133.2 mm3) (p < 0.05). The mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the UF were significantly larger on the left side 0.597, while the right UF had an average of 0.346 (p < 0.05). Patients older than 50 years old had a significantly higher value of mean diffusivity (MD) (p = 0.034). In 73.5% of patients, a greater number of fibers terminated in the inferior part of the inferior frontal gyrus. (4) Conclusions: The morphological characteristics of the UF, unlike the shape, are associated with sex and are characterized by hemispheric dominance. These findings confirm the results of the previous studies. Future research should examine the potential correlation among the UF volume, number of fibers, and total brain volume in both sexes and patient psychological state.

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Diffusion Tensor Imaging Investigation of Uncinate Fasciculus Anatomy in Healthy Controls: Description of a Subgenual Stem

Cited by 29 publications

References 36 publications

Aberrant Maturation of the Uncinate Fasciculus Follows Exposure to Unpredictable Patterns of Maternal Signals

Aberrant Maturation of the Uncinate Fasciculus Follows Exposure to Unpredictable Patterns of Maternal Signals

Elucidation of the relationship between sensory processing and white matter using diffusion tensor imaging tractography in young adults

Tractography-Based Analysis of Morphological and Anatomical Characteristics of the Uncinate Fasciculus in Human Brains

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