Extraction of prefronto-amygdalar pathways by combining probability maps.
Many recent studies reported altered functional connectivity within the frontolimbic circuitry in a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, functional connectivity must rely on structural connections. In this study we applied a novel probabilistic fiber tracking method to assess the structural connectivity between the amygdala and different prefrontal brain regions in vivo. Twenty healthy subjects were investigated with diffusion tensor imaging. Probabilistic fiber tracking was started from the amygdala and different prefrontal brain regions. Resulting probability maps were combined using an extended multiplication of probabilistic maps to identify the most probable anatomical pathways connecting these structures. We found one ventral pathway through the uncinate fascicle, connecting the amygdala and the medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortices. In addition to this ventral pathway, we depicted distinct dorsal pathways (medial and lateral), which connect the amygdala with the anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The dorso-medial pathway proceeds through the inferior thalamic peduncle, while the dorsolateral pathway travels through the external capsule. We believe that our approach provides a promising tool to assess the integrity of specific structural connections in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders.
Bracht
Tobias
T
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.
Tüscher
Oliver
O
Schnell
Susanne
S
Kreher
Björn
B
Rüsch
Nicolas
N
Glauche
Volkmar
V
Lieb
Klaus
K
Ebert
Dieter
D
Il'yasov
Kamil A
KA
Hennig
Jürgen
J
Weiller
Cornelius
C
van Elst
Ludger Tebartz
LT
Saur
Dorothee
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D055815:Young Adult