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Delineation of the middle longitudinal fascicle in humans: a quantitative, in vivo, DT-MRI study

Nikos Makris1, George M Papadimitriou, Jonathan R Kaiser

  • 1Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry, Center for Morphometric Analysis, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 02129, USA. nikos@cma.mgh.harvard.edu

Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|August 2, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Researchers mapped the human middle longitudinal fascicle (MdLF) using MRI, revealing its pathway from the inferior parietal lobule to the temporal pole. This white matter tract may play a role in language and attention.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging
  • Human Anatomy

Background:

  • Previous studies in non-human primates have identified long association fiber bundles in the temporoparietal region.
  • The precise trajectory and function of specific human white matter tracts, such as the middle longitudinal fascicle (MdLF), remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To delineate the trajectory of the middle longitudinal fascicle (MdLF) in the human brain.
  • To compare the anatomical position of the MdLF with the superior longitudinal fascicle II-arcuate fascicle (SLF II-AF).
  • To propose potential functional roles for the MdLF based on its anatomical connections.

Main Methods:

  • Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) segmentation and tractography were employed.
  • The study included 4 human subjects.
  • Anatomical comparisons were made with the superior longitudinal fascicle II-arcuate fascicle (SLF II-AF).

Main Results:

  • The middle longitudinal fascicle (MdLF) was successfully delineated, extending from the inferior parietal lobule (IPL), specifically the angular gyrus, to the temporal pole.
  • The MdLF is situated within the white matter of the superior temporal gyrus (STG).
  • Compared to the SLF II-AF, the MdLF is positioned more medially and caudally, but extends more rostrally.

Conclusions:

  • The anatomical course of the MdLF suggests a connection between the inferior parietal lobule (angular gyrus) and the superior temporal gyrus (STG).
  • Based on its location, the MdLF is hypothesized to be involved in crucial cognitive functions, including language processing and attention.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm the functional significance of the MdLF in human cognition.

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