title: Integrity of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus and impaired object recognition in children: a diffusion tensor imaging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we explored the integrity of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) by means of diffusion tensor imaging tractography in children with visual perceptual impairment, and more specifically, object recognition deficits, compared with typically developing children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven individuals (nine males, two females; mean age 7 y 8 mo; range 3 y 5 mo-13 y) were assessed with the L94 visual perceptual battery after assessment of performance age. In all participants, an ophthalmological evaluation was carried out. Diffusion tensor imaging tractography of the ILF was performed. The mean fractional anisotropy was determined for every child and compared with data for 11 age- and sex-matched typically developing children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean fractional anisotropy value in the left ILF was consistently lower in the study participants than in the comparison group. The five children with L94 impairment showed a significantly lower ILF fractional anisotropy on the left as well as on the right side. Furthermore, the decrease in ILF fractional anisotropy was correlated with the number of impaired subtests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest an association between ILF integrity loss and object recognition deficits. Moreover, the severity of clinical impairment is reflected in the degree of ILF integrity loss. Therefore, the ILF plays a potential role in object recognition.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Department, University Hospitals of the Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. els.ortibus@uzleuven.be
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortibus
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunaert
authors.forename: Ingele
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casteels
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Cock
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagae
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016880:Anisotropy; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*