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Updated: Jun 2, 2025
Studying Brain Function in Children Using Magnetoencephalography
Published on: April 8, 2019
Altered spontaneous brain activity in children with deprivation amblyopia: a resting-state functional magnetic
Yadong Li1, Guangying Zheng2, Baohong Wen3
1Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. liyadong1217@126.com.
Insights
Children with amblyopia show altered brain activity, with unique patterns in monocular versus binocular cases. These spontaneous brain activity changes may indicate underlying visual pathway dysfunctions and compensatory mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Amblyopia, a developmental vision disorder, arises from abnormal visual experience during critical periods.
- Deprivation amblyopia results from conditions like cataracts or ptosis, impacting visual input to the brain.
- Understanding differences between monocular and binocular deprivation is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in spontaneous brain activity in children with deprivation amblyopia.
- To compare the similarities and differences in brain activity patterns between monocular and binocular deprivation amblyopia.
- To explore the relationship between brain activity changes and visual acuity.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess spontaneous brain activity.
- Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) quantified brain activity.
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and correlation analyses compared fALFF values across groups and with visual acuity.
Main Results:
- Children with binocular deprivation amblyopia showed increased fALFF in frontal and precentral gyrus regions and decreased fALFF in the fusiform gyrus compared to controls.
- Children with monocular deprivation amblyopia exhibited increased fALFF in temporal and frontal regions and decreased fALFF in the precuneus compared to controls.
- Distinct differences in fALFF were observed between monocular and binocular amblyopia groups in regions including the inferior frontal gyrus and lingual gyrus. No significant correlation was found between fALFF and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).
Conclusions:
- Deprivation amblyopia is associated with widespread alterations in spontaneous brain activity.
- The patterns of altered brain activity differ significantly between monocular and binocular deprivation amblyopia.
- These neuroimaging findings suggest underlying neural dysfunctions and adaptive changes in the visual system related to amblyopia.
Background:
To investigate the alterations in spontaneous brain activity and the similarities and differences between monocular deprivation amblyopia and binocular deprivation amblyopia.
Methods:
Twenty children with binocular deprivation amblyopia, 26 children with monocular deprivation amblyopia and 20 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The evaluation of altered spontaneous brain activity was conducted using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF). One-way analysis of variance was employed to analyze fALFF values among the three groups. Additionally, the relationship between fALFF values and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was analyzed via correlation analysis.
Results:
Compared to healthy controls, children with binocular deprivation amblyopia presented increased fALFF values in the left medial superior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left anterior cingulate cortex, left postcentral gyrus and bilateral precentral gyrus, and decreased fALFF values in the right fusiform gyrus. Compared to healthy controls, children with monocular deprivation amblyopia presented increased fALFF values in the right lingual gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, triangular part of the left inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral middle temporal gyrus, and decreased fALFF values in the right precuneus. Compared with monocular deprivation amblyopia, fALFF values of binocular deprivation amblyopia were decreased in the triangular part of the left inferior frontal gyrus, right lingual gyrus and right cuneus, and increased in the left precentral gyrus and left postcentral gyrus. No significant correlations were found between the fALFF values of identified regions and the BCVA of amblyopic eyes for either type of amblyopia.
Conclusions:
Children with deprivation amblyopia presented alterations in spontaneous activity in multiple brain regions, and these alterations differed between monocular amblyopia and binocular amblyopia. These abnormal spontaneous activities may reflect dysfunctions and compensation related to amblyopia.
