TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in connectivity profiles define functionally-distinct regions in human medial frontal cortex
AU - Johansen-Berg, H.
AU - Behrens, T.E.J.
AU - Robson, M.D.
AU - Drobnjak, I.
AU - Rushworth, M.F.S.
AU - Brady, J.M.
AU - Smith, S.M.
AU - Higham, D.J.
AU - Matthews, P.M.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - A fundamental issue in neuroscience is the relation between structure and function. However, gross landmarks do not correspond well to microstructural borders and cytoarchitecture cannot be visualized in a living brain used for functional studies. Here, we used diffusion-weighted and functional MRI to test structure-function relations directly. Distinct neocortical regions were defined as volumes having similar connectivity profiles and borders identified where connectivity changed. Without using prior information, we found an abrupt profile change where the border between supplementary motor area (SMA) and pre-SMA is expected. Consistent with this anatomical assignment, putative SMA and pre-SMA connected to motor and prefrontal regions, respectively. Excellent spatial correlations were found between volumes defined by using connectivity alone and volumes activated during tasks designed to involve SMA or pre-SMA selectively. This finding demonstrates a strong relationship between structure and function in medial frontal cortex and offers a strategy for testing such correspondences elsewhere in the brain.
AB - A fundamental issue in neuroscience is the relation between structure and function. However, gross landmarks do not correspond well to microstructural borders and cytoarchitecture cannot be visualized in a living brain used for functional studies. Here, we used diffusion-weighted and functional MRI to test structure-function relations directly. Distinct neocortical regions were defined as volumes having similar connectivity profiles and borders identified where connectivity changed. Without using prior information, we found an abrupt profile change where the border between supplementary motor area (SMA) and pre-SMA is expected. Consistent with this anatomical assignment, putative SMA and pre-SMA connected to motor and prefrontal regions, respectively. Excellent spatial correlations were found between volumes defined by using connectivity alone and volumes activated during tasks designed to involve SMA or pre-SMA selectively. This finding demonstrates a strong relationship between structure and function in medial frontal cortex and offers a strategy for testing such correspondences elsewhere in the brain.
KW - neuroscience
KW - cytoarchitecture
KW - microstructural borders
KW - connectivity profiles
KW - brain
KW - human brain
UR - http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/101/36/13335.pdf
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0403743101
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0403743101
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0403743101
M3 - Article
VL - 101
SP - 13335
EP - 13340
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
SN - 1091-6490
IS - 26
ER -