Structural connectivity of visuotopic intraparietal sulcus

The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) contains topographically organized regions, similar to retinotopic maps in visual cortex. These regions, referred to as IPS1–4, show similar functional responses to the mapping tasks used to define them, yet differing responses to tests of other posterior parietal cort...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2013-11, Vol.82, p.137-145
Main Authors: Bray, Signe, Arnold, Aiden E.G.F., Iaria, Giuseppe, MacQueen, Glenda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Brain Mapping - methods
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Macaca
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Medical research
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Parietal Lobe - anatomy & histology
Photic Stimulation
Studies
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Visual Pathways - anatomy & histology
Young Adult
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Summary:The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) contains topographically organized regions, similar to retinotopic maps in visual cortex. These regions, referred to as IPS1–4, show similar functional responses to the mapping tasks used to define them, yet differing responses to tests of other posterior parietal cortex (PPC) functions such as short-term memory, eye movements and object viewing, suggesting that they may have distinct patterns of structural connectivity to other parts of the brain. The present study combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mapping with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to describe white matter connections of visuotopic regions along the IPS, in 25 neurotypical young-adult participants. We found that posterior IPS more likely connects to retinotopically defined visual regions, and superior temporal gyrus, relative to anterior IPS. Anterior IPS regions 3 and 4 had higher connection probabilities to prefrontal regions, relative to posterior IPS. All four IPS regions showed inter-hemispheric connections to analogous regions in the opposite hemisphere, as well as consistent connections to the thalamus and regions of the striatum. Multivariate pattern classification at the group level reliably distinguished IPS regions from one another on the basis of connectivity patterns, especially for the most distal pairs of regions; occipital and prefrontal regions provided the most discriminating information. These findings advance our understanding of the structure of visuotopic IPS, with implications for functional differences between regions, and possible homologies between humans and macaques. Visuospatial functions dependent on the parietal cortex are frequently impaired in individuals with developmental disorders and those afflicted by cerebrovascular disease; the findings described here can be used as a basis for comparing connectivity differences in these populations. •This study combined functional mapping of visuotopic IPS regions with DTI.•Posterior IPS regions are more likely connect to visual regions.•Anterior IPS regions are more likely to connect to prefrontal regions.•IPS1-4 show similar connectivity to insula, thalamus, and striatum.
ISSN:1053-8119
1095-9572
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.080