The inferior longitudinal fasciculus: anatomy, function and surgical considerations

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroanatomy
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) is a major white matter tract connecting occipital and temporal cortices.
• Its role in visual processing is increasingly recognized, yet its precise functions and anatomical organization require further elucidation, especially concerning temporal lobe pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the gross anatomy, layered structure, and cortical terminations of the ILF.
• To comprehensively examine the cognitive and affective functions associated with the ILF.
• To discuss ILF reorganization in response to brain tumors and surgical interventions, and to suggest improvements for intraoperative mapping.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of anatomical and functional studies on the inferior longitudinal fasciculus.
• Synthesis of findings related to ILF's role in object recognition, face recognition, visual emotion recognition, language, semantics, reading, and memory.
• Discussion of clinical implications, including neurosurgical and neurodegenerative disease contexts.

Main Results:

• The ILF plays a critical role in visually-guided behaviors, including object and face recognition, and visual emotion processing.
• Disruptions to the ILF are linked to specific visual neuropsychological deficits such as prosopagnosia and pure alexia.
• The ILF exhibits potential for reorganization following glioma infiltration and surgery.

Conclusions:

• The ILF is vital for a broad spectrum of visual cognitive and affective functions.
• Understanding ILF anatomy and function is essential for improving surgical outcomes in temporal lobe tumor cases.
• Further research into ILF plasticity and refined intraoperative mapping techniques is warranted.