Hemispheric asymmetries in language-related pathways: A combined functional MRI 
and tractography study

Powell, HW; Parker, GJ; Alexander, D; Symms, MR; Boulby, PA; Wheeler-Kingshott , CA; Noppeney, U; Barker, GJ; Koepp, MJ; Duncan, JS

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.03.011

Item

ITEM ACTIONSEXPORT

Add to Basket

Local TagsRelease HistoryDetailsSummary

Released

Journal Article

Hemispheric asymmetries in language-related pathways: A combined functional MRI and tractography study

MPS-Authors

There are no MPG-Authors in the publication available

External Resource

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811906001765
(Publisher version)

Fulltext (restricted access)

There are currently no full texts shared for your IP range.

Fulltext (public)

There are no public fulltexts stored in PuRe

Supplementary Material (public)

There is no public supplementary material available

Citation

Powell, H., Parker, G., Alexander, D., Symms, M., Boulby, P., Wheeler-Kingshott, C., et al. (2006). Hemispheric asymmetries in language-related pathways: A combined functional MRI and tractography study. NeuroImage, 32(1), 388-399. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.03.011.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0013-D1CB-7

Abstract

Functional lateralization is a feature of human brain function, most apparent in the typical left-hemisphere specialization for language. A number of anatomical and imaging studies have examined whether structural asymmetries underlie this functional lateralization. We combined functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with tractography to study 10 healthy right-handed subjects. Three language fMRI paradigms were used to define language-related regions in inferior frontal and superior temporal regions. A probabilistic tractography technique was then employed to delineate the connections of these functionally defined regions. We demonstrated consistent connections between Broca‘s and Wernicke‘s areas along the superior longitudinal fasciculus bilaterally but more extensive fronto-temporal connectivity on the left than the right. Both tract volumes and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) were significantly greater on the left than the right. We also demonst
rated a correlation between measures of structure and function, with subjects with more lateralized fMRI activation having a more highly lateralized mean FA of their connections. These structural asymmetries are in keeping with the lateralization of language function and indicate the major structural connections underlying this function.