Human intraparietal sulcal morphology relates to individual differences in language and memory performance

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Human Anatomy

Background:

• The sulco-gyral pattern, a feature of cortical anatomy, is established early in life and influences brain function.
• The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) is a critical associative brain region, yet its morphological impact on cognition remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the morphology of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and cognitive performance.
• To determine if specific sulco-gyral patterns are associated with memory and language task outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Classified the sulco-gyral pattern of the left and right IPS in 390 healthy individuals.
• Analyzed the presence or absence of sulcus interruption in relation to cognitive assessments.

Main Results:

• A significant association was observed between the morphology of the right IPS and performance in memory and language tasks.
• A sulcus interruption pattern in the right hemisphere was linked to better cognitive performance, possibly due to white matter organization.

Conclusions:

• Right-hemisphere IPS morphology, specifically sulcus interruption, is associated with cognitive abilities.
• Sulcus morphology plays a neurodevelopmental and plastic role in cognition before lateralization, suggesting a link with white matter architecture.