José Antonio Alarcón1, Miguel Velasco-Torres2, Antonio Rosas3, Pablo Galindo-Moreno4, Andrés Catena5. 1. Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain. jalarcon@ugr.es. 2. Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain. 3. Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain. 4. Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain. 5. Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Dolichofacial (long-faced) and brachyfacial (short-faced) individuals show specific and well-differentiated craniofacial morphology. Here, we hypothesise that differences in the basicranial orientation and topology between dolicho- and brachyfacial subjects could be associated with differences in the supporting brain tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Brain volumes (total intracranial, grey matter, and white matter volume), cortical thickness, and the volumes and shapes of fifteen subcortical nuclei were assessed on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging in 185 subjects. Global, voxel-wise and shape analyses, as well as multiple regression models, were generated to evaluate the association between vertical facial variations (dolicho- and brachyfacial spectrum) and brain morphology. RESULTS: Several differences in brain anatomy between dolicho- and brachyfacial subjects, along with relevant associations between vertical facial indices and brain structure and shape, were found. The most relevant finding of this study is related to the strong association of vertical facial indices with the volumes and shapes of subcortical nuclei, as the dolichofacial pattern increased, the bilateral hippocampus and brain stem expanded, while the left caudate, right pallidus, right amygdala, and right accumbens decreased in volume. CONCLUSIONS: Long- and short-faced human subjects present differences in brain structure and shape. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANT: The results of our study increase the clinician's knowledge about brain structure in dolicho- and brachyfacial patients. The findings could be of interest since the affected brain areas are involved in higher cognitive functions in humans, including language, memory, and attention.
OBJECTIVES: Dolichofacial (long-faced) and brachyfacial (short-faced) individuals show specific and well-differentiated craniofacial morphology. Here, we hypothesise that differences in the basicranial orientation and topology between dolicho- and brachyfacial subjects could be associated with differences in the supporting brain tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Brain volumes (total intracranial, grey matter, and white matter volume), cortical thickness, and the volumes and shapes of fifteen subcortical nuclei were assessed on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging in 185 subjects. Global, voxel-wise and shape analyses, as well as multiple regression models, were generated to evaluate the association between vertical facial variations (dolicho- and brachyfacial spectrum) and brain morphology. RESULTS: Several differences in brain anatomy between dolicho- and brachyfacial subjects, along with relevant associations between vertical facial indices and brain structure and shape, were found. The most relevant finding of this study is related to the strong association of vertical facial indices with the volumes and shapes of subcortical nuclei, as the dolichofacial pattern increased, the bilateral hippocampus and brain stem expanded, while the left caudate, right pallidus, right amygdala, and right accumbens decreased in volume. CONCLUSIONS: Long- and short-faced human subjects present differences in brain structure and shape. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANT: The results of our study increase the clinician's knowledge about brain structure in dolicho- and brachyfacial patients. The findings could be of interest since the affected brain areas are involved in higher cognitive functions in humans, including language, memory, and attention.
Authors: Kirk I Erickson; Walter R Boot; Chandramallika Basak; Mark B Neider; Ruchika S Prakash; Michelle W Voss; Ann M Graybiel; Daniel J Simons; Monica Fabiani; Gabriele Gratton; Arthur F Kramer Journal: Cereb Cortex Date: 2010-01-20 Impact factor: 5.357
Authors: Thomas A Avino; Nicole Barger; Martha V Vargas; Erin L Carlson; David G Amaral; Melissa D Bauman; Cynthia M Schumann Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2018-03-20 Impact factor: 11.205