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Detection of Functional Homotopy in Traumatic Axonal Injury

European Radiology volume 27, pages 325–335 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to explore the interhemispheric intrinsic connectivity in traumatic axonal injury (TAI) patients.

Methods

Twenty-one patients with TAI (14 males, seven females; mean age, 38.71 ± 15.25 years) and 22 well-matched healthy controls (16 males, six females; mean age, 38.50 ± 13.82 years) were recruited, and from them we obtained resting-state fMRI data. Interhemispheric coordination was examined using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and seed-based functional connectivity analysis was performed.

Results

We observed significantly decreased VMHC in a number of regions in TAI patients, including the prefrontal, temporal, occipital, parietal, and posterior cingulate cortices, thalami and cerebellar posterior lobes. Subsequent seed-based functional connectivity analysis revealed widely disrupted functional connectivity between the regions of local homotopic connectivity deficits and other areas of the brain, particularly the areas subserving the default, salience, integrative, and executive systems. The lower VMHC of the inferior frontal gyrus and basal ganglia, thalamus, and caudate were significant correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory score, Clinical Dementia Rating score, and Mini-Mental State Examination score, respectively.

Conclusion

TAI is associated with regionally decreased interhemispheric interactions and extensively disrupted seed-based functional connectivity, generating further evidence of diffuse disconnection being associated with clinical symptoms in TAI patients.

Key Points

• Traumatic axonal injury is associated with decreased interhemispheric connectivity

• Traumatic axonal injury couples with widely disrupted functional connectivity

• These alterations support the default, salience, integrative, and executive functions

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Abbreviations

TAI:

Traumatic axonal injury

TBI:

Traumatic brain injury

VMHC:

Voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity

FMRI:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

FC:

Functional connectivity

MMSE:

Mini-Mental State Examination

DRS:

Disability Rating Scale

BDI:

Beck Depression Inventory

MAS:

Motor Assessment Scale

ABS:

Adaptive Behavior Scale

HAMA:

Hamilton Anxiety Scale

CDR:

Clinical Dementia Rating

ADL:

Activity of Daily Living Scale

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Honghan Gong. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. This study has received funding by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (81260217 and 81460263). One of the authors (Lei Gao) has significant statistical expertise. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. Methodology: retrospective, cross sectional study, performed at one institution.

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    Affiliations

    1. Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zheng Street, Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, 330006, China

      Jian Li, Lei Gao, Kai Xie, Jie Zhan, Xiaoping Luo, Huifang Wang, Huifang Zhang, Jing Zhao, Fuqing Zhou, Xianjun Zeng, Laichang He, Yulin He & Honghan Gong

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    1. Jian Li
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    Correspondence to Lei Gao.

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    Jian Li and Lei Gao contributed equally to this work.

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    Li, J., Gao, L., Xie, K. et al. Detection of Functional Homotopy in Traumatic Axonal Injury. Eur Radiol 27, 325–335 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4302-x

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4302-x

    Keywords

    • Traumatic axonal injury
    • Homotopy
    • Interhemispheric connection
    • Brain
    • Resting-state fMRI