title: Diffusion tensor imaging differences relate to memory deficits in diffuse traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Memory is one of the most impaired functions after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to determine the structural basis of memory deficit. We correlated fractional anisotropy (FA) of the fasciculi connecting the main cerebral regions that are involved in declarative and working memory functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with severe and diffuse TBI and sixteen healthy controls matched by age and years of education were scanned. The neuropsychological assessment included: Letter-number sequencing test (LNS), 2-back task, digit span (forwards and backwards) and the Rivermead profilet. DTI was analyzed by a tract-based spatial statics (TBSS) approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole brain DTI analysis showed a global decrease in FA values that correlated with the 2-back d-prime index, but not with the Rivermead profile. ROI analysis revealed positive correlations between working memory performance assessed by 2-back d-prime and superior longitudinal fasciculi, corpus callosum, arcuate fasciculi and fornix. Declarative memory assessed by the Rivermead profile scores correlated with the fornix and the corpus callosum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffuse TBI is associated with a general decrease of white matter integrity. Nevertheless deficits in specific memory domains are related to different patterns of white matter damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Davinia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Espejo
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junque
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Carrion
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roig
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tormos
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bargallo
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vendrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests