title: Combined DTI-fMRI Analysis for a Quantitative Assessment of Connections Between WM Bundles and Their Peripheral Cortical Fields in Verbal Fluency.
abstract: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are powerful techniques to elucidate the anatomical and functional aspects of brain connectivity. However, integrating these approaches to describe the precise link between structure and function within specific brain circuits remains challenging. In this study, a novel DTI-fMRI integration method is proposed, to provide the topographical characterization and the volumetric assessment of the functional and anatomical connections within the language circuit. In a group of 21 healthy elderly subjects (mean age 68.5 ± 5.8 years), the volume of connection between the cortical activity elicited by a verbal fluency task and the cortico-cortical fiber tracts associated with this function are mapped and quantified. An application of the method to a case study in neuro-rehabilitation context is also presented. Integrating structural and functional data within the same framework, this approach provides an overall view of white and gray matter when studying specific brain circuits.
authors: Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.|Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors: Elisa
authors: 0000-0002-4001-0954
authors: E
authors: Scaccianoce
authors: Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy. mlagana@dongnocchi.it.
authors: Maria Marcella
authors: MM
authors: Laganà
authors: Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Baglio
authors: Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.|Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, CH-1211, Switzerland.
authors: Maria Giulia
authors: MG
authors: Preti
authors: Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.|Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy.|Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Bergsland
authors: Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Cecconi
authors: Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.|Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122, Milan, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Clerici
authors: Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Baselli
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology Services, Center for Morphometric Analysis, A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Papadimitriou
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology Services, Center for Morphometric Analysis, A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA.
authors: Nikos
authors: N
authors: Makris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); Language; Mapping brain connectivity; Multimodal imaging