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Simultaneous Assessment of White Matter Changes in Microstructure and Connectedness in the Blind Brain
Nina Linde Reislev1, Tim Bjørn Dyrby2, Hartwig Roman Siebner3
1Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; BRAINlab and Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the human brain has provided converging evidence that visual deprivation induces regional changes in white matter (WM) microstructure. It remains unclear how these changes modify network connections between brain regions. Here we used diffusion-weighted MRI to relate differences in microstructure and structural connectedness of WM in individuals with congenital or late-onset blindness relative to normally sighted controls. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provided voxel-specific microstructural features of the tissue, while anatomical connectivity mapping (ACM) assessed the connectedness of each voxel with the rest of the brain. ACM yielded reduced anatomical connectivity in the corpus callosum in individuals with congenital but not late-onset blindness. ACM did not identify any brain region where blindness resulted in increased anatomical connectivity. DTI revealed widespread microstructural differences as indexed by a reduced regional fractional anisotropy (FA). Blind individuals showed lower FA in the primary visual and the ventral visual processing stream relative to sighted controls regardless of the blindness onset. The results show that visual deprivation shapes WM microstructure and anatomical connectivity, but these changes appear to be spatially dissociated as changes emerge in different WM tracts. They also indicate that regional differences in anatomical connectivity depend on the onset of blindness.
Insights
Visual deprivation alters white matter (WM) microstructure and brain network connections. Congenital blindness reduced corpus callosum connectivity, while both congenital and late-onset blindness affected white matter integrity, particularly in visual processing areas.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- White Matter Research
Background:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies indicate visual deprivation causes regional changes in white matter (WM) microstructure.
- The impact of these microstructural changes on network connections between brain regions remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how visual deprivation affects white matter microstructure and structural connectivity in the brain.
- To compare individuals with congenital or late-onset blindness to normally sighted controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized diffusion-weighted MRI, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for microstructural analysis.
- Employed anatomical connectivity mapping (ACM) to assess voxel-wise brain region connectedness.
Main Results:
- Reduced anatomical connectivity in the corpus callosum was observed in individuals with congenital blindness, but not late-onset blindness.
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) revealed widespread microstructural differences, marked by reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in blind individuals.
- Lower FA was consistently found in the primary visual and ventral visual processing streams, irrespective of blindness onset.
Conclusions:
- Visual deprivation significantly shapes white matter microstructure and anatomical connectivity.
- Changes in white matter microstructure and anatomical connectivity appear spatially dissociated, affecting different white matter tracts.
- The onset of blindness influences regional differences in anatomical connectivity.
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