Structural and functional connectivity mapping of the vestibular circuitry from human brainstem to cortex
Structural and functional connectivity mapping of the vestibular circuitry from human brainstem to cortex
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DOI：
10.1007/s00429-014-0971-x
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发表时间：
2016-04-01
影响因子：
3.1
通讯作者：
Dieterich, M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kirsch, V.;Keeser, D.;Dieterich, M.
双侧中枢前庭神经网络的结构和功能的相互联系尚未完全阐明。这包括同侧和对侧通路以及从前庭核经由丘脑中继站到多个“前庭皮质”区域的途中的交叉位点。本研究采用弥散张量成像和功能连接磁共振成像技术，对24名健康右利手志愿者的前庭核和顶叶-岛叶前庭皮质（PIVC）之间的“前庭”连接进行了研究。我们观察到一致的功能和结构之间的联系前庭核和同侧和对侧PIVC。五个独立的和不同的前庭通路被确定：三个同侧运行，而其他两个跨脑桥脑或中脑。同侧的两个投射穿过后外侧或旁正中丘脑亚核，而第三个则绕过丘脑直接到达岛叶皮质的下部。两条对侧通路都通过后外侧丘脑。在皮质水平，右半球优势的两个半球的PIVC区域通过前后压部经胼胝体相互连接。上述双侧前庭回路整体上采取从脑干延伸到皮质的绳梯结构的形式，在脑干中有三个交叉点（前庭核、脑桥、中脑），在丘脑水平没有交叉点，第四个皮质交叉点穿过胼胝体压部。
Structural and functional interconnections of the bilateral central vestibular network have not yet been completely delineated. This includes both ipsilateral and contralateral pathways and crossing sites on the way from the vestibular nuclei via the thalamic relay stations to multiple "vestibular cortex" areas. This study investigated "vestibular" connectivity in the living human brain in between the vestibular nuclei and the parieto-insular vestibular cortex (PIVC) by combined structural and functional connectivity mapping using diffusion tensor imaging and functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging in 24 healthy right-handed volunteers. We observed a congruent functional and structural link between the vestibular nuclei and the ipsilateral and contralateral PIVC. Five separate and distinct vestibular pathways were identified: three run ipsilaterally, while the two others cross either in the pons or the midbrain. Two of the ipsilateral projections run through the posterolateral or paramedian thalamic subnuclei, while the third bypasses the thalamus to reach the inferior part of the insular cortex directly. Both contralateral pathways travel through the posterolateral thalamus. At the cortical level, the PIVC regions of both hemispheres with a right hemispherical dominance are interconnected transcallosally through the antero-caudal splenium. The above-described bilateral vestibular circuitry in its entirety takes the form of a structure of a rope ladder extending from the brainstem to the cortex with three crossings in the brainstem (vestibular nuclei, pons, midbrain), none at thalamic level and a fourth cortical crossing through the splenium of the corpus callosum.