Rajikha Raja1, Xiaoxu Na1, Alexandra Moore2, Raymond Otoo2, Charles M Glasier1,3, Thomas M Badger3,4, Xiawei Ou1,3. 1. Department of Radiology, 12215University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. 2. College of Medicine, 12215University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. 3. Department of Pediatrics, 12215University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. 4. 57731Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Quantitative tractography using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data is widely used in characterizing white matter microstructure throughout childhood, but more studies are still needed to investigate comprehensive brain-behavior relationships between tract-specific white matter measures and multiple cognitive functions in children. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed diffusion-weighted MRI data of 71 healthy 8-year-old children utilizing white matter tract-specific quantitative measures derived from diffusion-weighted MRI tractography based on a novel track-weighted imaging approach. Track density imaging, average path length map and 4 track-weighted diffusion tensor imaging measures including: mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were computed for 63 white matter tracts. The track-weighted imaging measures were then correlated with a comprehensive set of neuropsychological test scores in different cognitive domains including intelligence, language, memory, academic skills, and executive functions to identify tract-specific brain-behavior relationships. RESULTS: Significant correlations (P < .05, false discovery rate corrected; r = 0.27-0.57) were found in multiple white matter tracts, with a total of 40 correlations identified between various track-weighted imaging measures including average path length map, track-weighted imaging-fractional anisotropy, and neuropsychological test scores and subscales. Specifically, track-weighted imaging measures indicative of better white matter connectivity and/or microstructural development significantly correlated with higher IQ and better language abilities. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the ability of track-weighted imaging measures in establishing associations between white matter and cognitive functioning in healthy children and can serve as a reference for normal brain/cognition relationships in young school-age children and further aid in identifying imaging biomarkers predictive of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
PURPOSE: Quantitative tractography using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data is widely used in characterizing white matter microstructure throughout childhood, but more studies are still needed to investigate comprehensive brain-behavior relationships between tract-specific white matter measures and multiple cognitive functions in children. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed diffusion-weighted MRI data of 71 healthy 8-year-old children utilizing white matter tract-specific quantitative measures derived from diffusion-weighted MRI tractography based on a novel track-weighted imaging approach. Track density imaging, average path length map and 4 track-weighted diffusion tensor imaging measures including: mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were computed for 63 white matter tracts. The track-weighted imaging measures were then correlated with a comprehensive set of neuropsychological test scores in different cognitive domains including intelligence, language, memory, academic skills, and executive functions to identify tract-specific brain-behavior relationships. RESULTS: Significant correlations (P < .05, false discovery rate corrected; r = 0.27-0.57) were found in multiple white matter tracts, with a total of 40 correlations identified between various track-weighted imaging measures including average path length map, track-weighted imaging-fractional anisotropy, and neuropsychological test scores and subscales. Specifically, track-weighted imaging measures indicative of better white matter connectivity and/or microstructural development significantly correlated with higher IQ and better language abilities. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the ability of track-weighted imaging measures in establishing associations between white matter and cognitive functioning in healthy children and can serve as a reference for normal brain/cognition relationships in young school-age children and further aid in identifying imaging biomarkers predictive of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Authors: Amjad Samara; Kaiyang Feng; R Terry Pivik; Kelly P Jarratt; Thomas M Badger; Xiawei Ou Journal: J Neuroimaging Date: 2018-11-06 Impact factor: 2.486
Authors: M Bozzali; B Spanò; G J M Parker; G Giulietti; M Castelli; B Basile; S Rossi; L Serra; G Magnani; U Nocentini; C Caltagirone; D Centonze; M Cercignani Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2013-01-16 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: Emily L Dennis; Neda Jahanshad; Katie L McMahon; Greig I de Zubicaray; Nicholas G Martin; Ian B Hickie; Arthur W Toga; Margaret J Wright; Paul M Thompson Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2012-09-14 Impact factor: 6.556