Gray matter volumes and cognitive ability in the epileptogenic brain malformation of periventricular nodular heterotopia.
Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is a brain malformation clinically characterized by the triad of epilepsy, normal intelligence, and dyslexia. We investigated the structure-function relationship between cerebral volumes and cognitive ability in this disorder by studying 12 subjects with PNH and 6 controls using volumetric analysis of high-resolution anatomical MRI and neuropsychological testing. Total cerebral volumes and specific brain compartment volumes (gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid) in subjects with PNH were comparable to those in controls. There was a negative correlation between heterotopic gray matter volume and cortical gray matter volume. Cerebral and cortical volumes in PNH did not correlate with Full Scale IQ, unlike in normal individuals. Our findings support the idea that heterotopic nodules contain misplaced neurons that would normally have migrated to the cortex, and suggest that structural correlates of normal cognitive ability may be different in the setting of neuronal migration failure.
Walker
Linsey M
LM
Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Katzir
Tami
T
Liu
Tianming
T
Ly
Jenny
J
Corriveau
Kathleen
K
Barzillai
Mirit
M
Chu
Felicia
F
O'Connor
Margaret G
MG
Hackney
David B
DB
Chang
Bernard S
BS
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D054091:Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014888:Wechsler Scales; D055815:Young Adult