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Altered functional connectivity of primary visual cortex in late blindness
Zhi Wen1, Fu-Qing Zhou2, Xin Huang3
1Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China, xiebj@126.com.
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
|December 26, 2018
Summary
Late blindness (LB) is associated with reduced functional connectivity (FC) between the primary visual cortex (V1) and other brain areas. This may impact visual processing and motor function in individuals with LB.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Functional Neuroimaging
- Visual System Research
Background:
- Previous research links early blindness to altered functional connectivity (FC) between the primary visual cortex (V1) and sensory areas.
- The impact of late blindness (LB) on V1's spontaneous neural activity patterns remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) patterns of the primary visual cortex (V1) in individuals with late blindness (LB).
Main Methods:
- Resting-state fMRI scans were acquired from 30 individuals with LB and 30 matched sighted controls (SCs).
- Region of interest analysis focused on Brodmann area 17 (V1) and its FC with vision-related subcortical nuclei.
Main Results:
- LB individuals exhibited decreased FC between V1 and higher visual areas (cuneus, lingual gyrus, calcarine) and motor/somatosensory cortices compared to SCs.
- Reduced FC was observed between left and right V1 in LB individuals.
- Increased FC was noted between left V1 and the right superior colliculus, and between right V1 and the left hippocampus in LB.
- A positive correlation was found between the age of blindness onset and V1 connectivity to visual areas in LB.
Conclusions:
- Late blindness (LB) is associated with decreased functional connectivity (FC) between the primary visual cortex (V1) and higher visual, motor, and somatosensory areas.
- These findings suggest potential impairments in top-down modulation, visual imagery, and vision-motor function in individuals with LB.
Keywords:
functional magnetic resonance imagingintrinsic functional connectivitylate blindnessprimary visual areaMore Related Videos
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