Constrained spherical deconvolution analysis of the limbic network in human, with emphasis on a direct cerebello-limbic pathway
Constrained spherical deconvolution analysis of the limbic network in human, with emphasis on a direct cerebello-limbic pathway
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DOI：
10.3389/fnhun.2014.00987
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发表时间：
2014-12-08
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Milardi, Demetrio
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Arrigo, Alessandro;Mormina, Enricomaria;Milardi, Demetrio
边缘系统是一个复杂网络的一部分，该网络涉及记忆和情感等多种功能。传统上，小脑的作用被认为主要与运动控制有关；然而，一些证据表明，小脑在学习技能、情绪控制、记忆和行为过程中的作用也与边缘系统有关。在15名正常受试者中，我们用概率约束球面去卷积(CSD)法对边缘连接进行了研究。我们工作的主要结果是首次在人脑中证明了存在一条直接的小脑-边缘通路，这是以前的假设，但从未得到证实。我们还将我们的分析扩展到其他边缘连接，包括扣带束、下纵束、钩状束、丘脑前连接和穹隆。虽然这些途径已经在纤维束成像文献中进行了描述，但我们使用概率CSD纤维束成像技术提供了重建、定量分析和分数各向异性(FA)左右对称性比较，与以前使用的扩散张量成像(DTI)技术相比，这是一种潜在的改进。证明小脑-边缘通路的存在可能是了解非运动性小脑功能的解剖基础的重要一步。最后，CSD关于健康受试者边缘连接的统计数据可能对损害该系统的病理疾病的诊断有潜在的帮助。
The limbic system is part of an intricate network which is involved in several functions like memory and emotion. Traditionally the role of the cerebellum was considered mainly associated to motion control; however several evidences are raising about a role of the cerebellum in learning skills, emotions control, mnemonic and behavioral processes involving also connections with limbic system. In 15 normal subjects we studied limbic connections by probabilistic Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) tractography. The main result of our work was to prove for the first time in human brain the existence of a direct cerebello-limbic pathway which was previously hypothesized but never demonstrated. We also extended our analysis to the other limbic connections including cingulate fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, uncinated fasciculus, anterior thalamic connections and fornix. Although these pathways have been already described in the tractographic literature we provided reconstruction, quantitative analysis and Fractional Anisotropy (FA) right-left symmetry comparison using probabilistic CSD tractography that is known to provide a potential improvement compared to previously used Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) techniques. The demonstration of the existence of cerebello-limbic pathway could constitute an important step in the knowledge of the anatomic substrate of non-motor cerebellar functions. Finally the CSD statistical data about limbic connections in healthy subjects could be potentially useful in the diagnosis of pathological disorders damaging this system.