Neural correlates associated with impaired global motion perception in cerebral visual impairment (CVI)

Abstract

Highlights Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is associated with impaired global motion processing. Mean motion coherence thresholds was higher in individuals with CVI. fMRI responses in area hMT+ showed an aberrant response profile in CVI. White matter tract reconstruction revealed cortico-cortical dysmyelination in CVI.

Exploratory Investigation of Brain MRI Lesions According to Whole Sample and Visual Function Subtyping in Children With Cerebral Visual Impairment

“…The brain scans were undertaken when the children were on average 2 years old but the visual function data was assessed when the children were school age (broad range of 6–10 years). Early neuroplastic and ongoing neurodevelopmental growth and compensatory processes (such as language development and verbal mediation) may enable some children to have improving acuity or better functional use of available vision ( Fazzi et al, 2007 ; Good, 2007 ; Guzzetta et al, 2010 ; Merabet et al, 2017 ; Pamir et al, 2021 ). This might explain why Group A and Group B did not differ significantly in brain lesions but other protective factors may be at play in the improved visual acuity levels of Group A.…”

“…Our findings are similar to previous research suggesting that the ability to predict functional outcomes of CVI from the clinical neuroimaging are not at a reliable level ( Jacobson et al, 2006 ; Boot et al, 2010 ; Chang and Borchert, 2020 ). However, as neuroimaging techniques develop further, the role of brain anatomical classification may become more relevant ( Bauer et al, 2014 ; Merabet et al, 2017 ; Bennett et al, 2020 ; Pamir et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Evidence for the construct validity of this template has been reported in a sample of children with unilateral cerebral palsy, with motor and sensorimotor hand function measures correlating with contralateral lobal and hemispheric scores ( Fiori et al, 2015 ). This coding template has since been extended to examining functional neuroimaging and white matter structures in adolescents with CVI and visual impairments related to perinatal injury ( Pamir et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Convergent evidence suggests that congenital CVI is associated with widespread diffuse changes in the structural and functional integrity of gray and white matter pathways, including optic radiations from the optic nerves to the occipital cortex; these have been associated with reduced visual acuity and visual perceptual dysfunctions ( Ortibus et al, 2012 ; Bauer et al, 2014 ; Bauer and Papadelis, 2019 ; Bennett et al, 2020 ; Pamir et al, 2021 ). Thalamic involvement has been associated with severe visual impairment ( Cioni et al, 1996 , 1997 , 2000 ; Ricci et al, 2006 ; Ortibus et al, 2009 ; Merabet et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Damage to the structure, volume and network integrity of white matter of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus has been implicated in object recognition difficulties ( Ortibus et al, 2012 ). Performance on a task of global motion coherence was associated with integrity of the right superior longitudinal fasciculus in typically sighted children ( Braddick et al, 2016 ) and white matter connections of the visual cortex to temporal cortex in people with CVI ( Pamir et al, 2021 ). Using the coding template for MRI brain scans ( Fiori et al, 2014 ), brain damage scores of global structural, hemispheric and subcortical scores were found to correlate significantly with basic vision disorder in children with cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia ( Tinelli et al, 2020 ).…”