Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026
10:05
DTI of the Visual Pathway - White Matter Tracts and Cerebral Lesions
Published on: August 26, 2014
14.6K
White matter microstructural alterations in amblyopic adults revealed by diffusion spectrum imaging with systematic
Tzu-Hsun Tsai1,2, Hsien-Te Su3, Yung-Chin Hsu3
1Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|May 31, 2018
Summary
Adults with amblyopia show altered white matter brain architecture, particularly in association and projection fibers. These microstructural changes may impact higher-level functions like hand-eye coordination.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Amblyopia, or 'lazy eye', is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting visual acuity.
- Understanding the underlying brain alterations in adults with amblyopia is crucial for potential interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter microstructural changes in adults with amblyopia.
- To correlate these changes with early visual processing deficits.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) and tract-based automatic analysis were used for whole-brain white matter assessment.
- Generalised fractional anisotropy (GFA) was measured in 76 white matter tracts and compared between amblyopic adults and controls.
Main Results:
- Amblyopic adults exhibited significantly lower GFA in nine white matter tracts, including association, projection, and callosal fibers.
- Elevated GFA was observed in the bilateral uncinate fasciculus of amblyopic individuals compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal early visual processing in amblyopia is associated with distinct alterations in brain architecture.
- These white matter changes may underlie higher-level functional deficits, such as impaired audiovisual integration and hand-eye coordination.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Diffusion
221.0K
Diffusion is the passive movement of substances down their concentration gradients—requiring no expenditure of cellular energy. Substances, such as molecules or ions, diffuse from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration in the cytosol or across membranes. Eventually, the concentration will even out, with the substance moving randomly but causing no net change in concentration. Such a state is called dynamic equilibrium, which is essential for maintaining overall...
221.0K
02:37The Electromagnetic Spectrum
65.5K
The electromagnetic spectrum consists of all the types of electromagnetic radiation arranged according to their frequency and wavelength. Each of the various colors of visible light has specific frequencies and wavelengths associated with them, and you can see that visible light makes up only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because the technologies developed to work in various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are different, for reasons of convenience and historical...
65.5K
02:57Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
166.9K
The characteristics that enable us to distinguish one substance from another are called properties.
166.9K
02:49Classifying Matter by State
104.1K
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is all around us; the air, water, soil, mountains, even our bodies are all examples of matter. Matter is divided into three states — solid, liquid, and gas — that are commonly found on earth. The fourth state of matter, plasma, occurs naturally in the interiors of stars.
104.1K
03:35Classifying Matter by Composition
91.0K
Matter: Pure Substances and Mixtures
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...
91.0K
01:28Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior
262
Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
262