Elsa Magro, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jean-Christophe Gentric, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Tristan Moreau, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Romuald Seizeur, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bernard Gibaud, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Xavier Morandi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The aim of this study was first to extract and analyze the features of theses short fibers bundles, and secondly to analyze their repartition according to the subjects’ laterality

Ten right-handed and ten left-handed healthy subjects were included. The parcellation of the pre- and postcentral gyri was realized using T1 MR Images, and semi automatically generated 3 regions of interest (ROIs) within each gyrus. White matter fibers bundles were extracted using a stream line tractography and a two ROIs approach. MRI tracks were reconstructed between all pairs of ROIs connecting the adjacent pre- and postcentral gyri. Quantitative analysis was performed on the number of fibers connecting each ROI. Statistical analysis studied the repartition of these fibers in the right and left hemispheres in function of the subjects’ laterality

Short MRI tracks representing short fibers bundles were bilaterally extracted connecting adjacent pre- and postcentral gyri for each subject. The quantitative analysis showed an increased density of fibers in the middle part of the central area in each hemisphere of the twenty subjects. Statistical analysis which compared the number of fibers in right and left hemisphere showed more fibers in the left hemisphere for right and left-handed (p=0, 0162).  

This study demonstrates the possibility to analyze and quantify short white matter bundles using this tractographic approach. The most important density of fibers in the middle part of the central area connecting pre- and postcentral gyri has even been described by Broca. As found in previous studies about long association fibers supporting language functions, the number of short association fibers appears more numerous in the left hemisphere of right and left-handed subjects. 

Cortical parcellation of central area and tractography using a two ROI approach permitted to improve our knowledge on the short association fibers connecting the precentral and postcentral gyri.

Magro, E, Gentric, J, Moreau, T, Seizeur, R, Gibaud, B, Morandi, X, White Matter Short Bundles in Central Area from Diffusion Tensor MRI Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11009844.html