title: Structural connectivity in a single case of progressive prosopagnosia: the role of the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus.
abstract: Progressive prosopagnosia (PP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive and selective inability to recognize and identify faces of familiar people. Here we report a patient (G.S.) with PP, mainly related to a prominent deficit in recognition of familiar faces, without a semantic (cross-modal) impairment. An in-depth evaluation showed that his deficit extended to other classes of objects, both living and non-living. A follow-up neuropsychological assessment did not reveal substantial changes after about 1 year. Structural MRI showed predominant right temporal lobe atrophy. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed to elucidate structural connectivity of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) and the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), the two major tracts that project through the core fusiform region to the anterior temporal and frontal cortices, respectively. Right ILF was markedly reduced in G.S., while left ILF and IFOFs were apparently preserved. These data are in favour of a crucial role of the neural circuit subserved by right ILF in the pathogenesis of PP.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Fondazione SDN, Istituto di Ricerca Diagnostica e Nucleare, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soricelli
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponari
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, School of Biotechnology, Federico II University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.affiliation: Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, CNR, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quarantelli
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Fondazione SDN, Istituto di Ricerca Diagnostica e Nucleare, Naples, Italy; Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, CNR, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prinster
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.trojano@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trojano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020238:Prosopagnosia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging; Inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus; Inferior longitudinal fasciculus; Progressive prosopagnosia