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Dumitru ML. Brain asymmetry is globally different in males and females: exploring cortical volume, area, thickness, and mean curvature. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:11623-11633. [PMID: 37851852 PMCID: PMC10724869 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain asymmetry is a cornerstone in the development of higher-level cognition, but it is unclear whether and how it differs in males and females. Asymmetry has been investigated using the laterality index, which compares homologous regions as pairwise weighted differences between the left and the right hemisphere. However, if asymmetry differences between males and females are global instead of pairwise, involving proportions between multiple brain areas, novel methodological tools are needed to evaluate them. Here, we used the Amsterdam Open MRI collection to investigate sexual dimorphism in brain asymmetry by comparing laterality index with the distance index, which is a global measure of differences within and across hemispheres, and with the subtraction index, which compares pairwise raw values in the left and right hemisphere. Machine learning models, robustness tests, and group analyses of cortical volume, area, thickness, and mean curvature revealed that, of the three indices, distance index was the most successful biomarker of sexual dimorphism. These findings suggest that left-right asymmetry in males and females involves global coherence rather than pairwise contrasts. Further studies are needed to investigate the biological basis of local and global asymmetry based on growth patterns under genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda L Dumitru
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Postboks 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Postboks 7807, 5020 Bergen, Norway
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2
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Coelho A, Magalhães R, Moreira PS, Amorim L, Portugal-Nunes C, Castanho T, Santos NC, Sousa N, Fernandes HM. A novel method for estimating connectivity-based parcellation of the human brain from diffusion MRI: Application to an aging cohort. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:2419-2443. [PMID: 35274787 PMCID: PMC9057102 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Connectivity‐based parcellation (CBP) methods are used to define homogenous and biologically meaningful parcels or nodes—the foundations of brain network fingerprinting—by grouping voxels with similar patterns of brain connectivity. However, we still lack a gold standard method and the use of CBPs to study the aging brain remains scarce. Our study proposes a novel CBP method from diffusion MRI data and shows its potential to produce a more accurate characterization of the longitudinal alterations in brain network topology occurring in aging. For this, we constructed whole‐brain connectivity maps from diffusion MRI data of two datasets: an aging cohort evaluated at two timepoints (mean interval time: 52.8 ± 7.24 months) and a normative adult cohort—MGH‐HCP. State‐of‐the‐art clustering techniques were used to identify the best performing technique. Furthermore, we developed a new metric (connectivity homogeneity fingerprint [CHF]) to evaluate the success of the final CBP in improving regional/global structural connectivity homogeneity. Our results show that our method successfully generates highly homogeneous parcels, as described by the significantly larger CHF score of the resulting parcellation, when compared to the original. Additionally, we demonstrated that the developed parcellation provides a robust anatomical framework to assess longitudinal changes in the aging brain. Our results reveal that aging is characterized by a reorganization of the brain's structural network involving the decrease of intra‐hemispheric, increase of inter‐hemispheric connectivity, and topological rearrangement. Overall, this study proposes a new methodology to perform accurate and robust evaluations of CBP of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Coelho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro S Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Liliana Amorim
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Carlos Portugal-Nunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Teresa Castanho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nadine Correia Santos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Henrique M Fernandes
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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3
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Holmes SA, Staffa SJ, Karapanagou A, Lopez N, Karian V, Borra R, Zurakowski D, Lebel A, Borsook D. Biological laterality and peripheral nerve DTI metrics. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260256. [PMID: 34914714 PMCID: PMC8675689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose Clinical comparisons do not usually take laterality into account and thus may report erroneous or misleading data. The concept of laterality, well evaluated in brain and motor systems, may also apply at the level of peripheral nerves. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the extent to which we could observe an effect of laterality in MRI-collected white matter indices of the sciatic nerve and its two branches (tibial and fibular). Materials and methods We enrolled 17 healthy persons and performed peripheral nerve diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) of the sciatic, tibial and fibular nerve. Participants were scanned bilaterally, and findings were divided into ipsilateral and contralateral nerve fibers relative to self-reporting of hand dominance. Generalized estimating equation modeling was used to evaluate nerve fiber differences between ipsilateral and contralateral legs while controlling for confounding variables. All findings controlled for age, sex and number of scans performed. Results A main effect of laterality was found in radial, axial, and mean diffusivity for the tibial nerve. Axial diffusivity was found to be lateralized in the sciatic nerve. When evaluating mean MTR, a main effect of laterality was found for each nerve division. A main effect of sex was found in the tibial and fibular nerve fiber bundles. Conclusion For the evaluation of nerve measures using DWI and MTI, in either healthy or disease states, consideration of underlying biological metrics of laterality in peripheral nerve fiber characteristics need to considered for data analysis. Integrating knowledge regarding biological laterality of peripheral nerve microstructure may be applied to improve how we diagnosis pain disorders, how we track patients’ recovery and how we forecast pain chronification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Holmes
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Steven J. Staffa
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anastasia Karapanagou
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Natalia Lopez
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Victoria Karian
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ronald Borra
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - David Zurakowski
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alyssa Lebel
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David Borsook
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Gómez-Ramírez J, González-Rosa JJ. Intra- and interhemispheric symmetry of subcortical brain structures: a volumetric analysis in the aging human brain. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:451-462. [PMID: 34089103 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02305-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Here, we address the hemispheric interdependency of subcortical structures in the aging human brain. In particular, we investigated whether subcortical volume variations can be explained by the adjacency of structures in the same hemisphere or are due to the interhemispheric development of mirror subcortical structures in the brain. Seven subcortical structures in each hemisphere were automatically segmented in a large sample of 3312 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of elderly individuals in their 70s and 80s. We performed Eigenvalue analysis, and found that anatomic volumes in the limbic system and basal ganglia show similar statistical dependency whether considered in the same hemisphere (intrahemispherically) or different hemispheres (interhemispherically). Our results indicate that anatomic bilaterality of subcortical volumes is preserved in the aging human brain, supporting the hypothesis that coupling between non-adjacent subcortical structures might act as a mechanism to compensate for the deleterious effects of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier J González-Rosa
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
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5
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Coelho A, Fernandes HM, Magalhães R, Moreira PS, Marques P, Soares JM, Amorim L, Portugal‐Nunes C, Castanho T, Santos NC, Sousa N. Reorganization of brain structural networks in aging: A longitudinal study. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:1354-1376. [PMID: 33527512 PMCID: PMC8248023 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Normal aging is characterized by structural and functional changes in the brain contributing to cognitive decline. Structural connectivity (SC) describes the anatomical backbone linking distinct functional subunits of the brain and disruption of this communication is thought to be one of the potential contributors for the age-related deterioration observed in cognition. Several studies already explored brain network's reorganization during aging, but most focused on average connectivity of the whole-brain or in specific networks, such as the resting-state networks. Here, we aimed to characterize longitudinal changes of white matter (WM) structural brain networks, through the identification of sub-networks with significantly altered connectivity along time. Then, we tested associations between longitudinal changes in network connectivity and cognition. We also assessed longitudinal changes in topological properties of the networks. For this, older adults were evaluated at two timepoints, with a mean interval time of 52.8 months (SD = 7.24). WM structural networks were derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, and cognitive status from neurocognitive testing. Our results show age-related changes in brain SC, characterized by both decreases and increases in connectivity weight. Interestingly, decreases occur in intra-hemispheric connections formed mainly by association fibers, while increases occur mostly in inter-hemispheric connections and involve association, commissural, and projection fibers, supporting the last-in-first-out hypothesis. Regarding topology, two hubs were lost, alongside with a decrease in connector-hub inter-modular connectivity, reflecting reduced integration. Simultaneously, there was an increase in the number of provincial hubs, suggesting increased segregation. Overall, these results confirm that aging triggers a reorganization of the brain structural network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Coelho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Henrique M. Fernandes
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB)Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Pedro S. Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Paulo Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - José M. Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Liliana Amorim
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Carlos Portugal‐Nunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Teresa Castanho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Nadine Correia Santos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
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6
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Bisiacchi P, Cainelli E. Structural and functional brain asymmetries in the early phases of life: a scoping review. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:479-496. [PMID: 33738578 PMCID: PMC8843922 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02256-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Asymmetry characterizes the brain in both structure and function. Anatomical asymmetries explain only a fraction of functional variability in lateralization, with structural and functional asymmetries developing at different periods of life and in different ways. In this work, we perform a scoping review of the cerebral asymmetries in the first brain development phases. We included all English-written studies providing direct evidence of hemispheric asymmetries in full-term neonates, foetuses, and premature infants, both at term post-conception and before. The final analysis included 57 studies. The reviewed literature shows large variability in the used techniques and methodological procedures. Most structural studies investigated the temporal lobe, showing a temporal planum more pronounced on the left than on the right (although not all data agree), a morphological asymmetry already present from the 29th week of gestation. Other brain structures have been poorly investigated, and the results are even more discordant. Unlike data on structural asymmetries, functional data agree with each other, identifying a leftward dominance for speech stimuli and an overall dominance of the right hemisphere in all other functional conditions. This generalized dominance of the right hemisphere for all conditions (except linguistic stimuli) is in line with theories stating that the right hemisphere develops earlier and that its development is less subject to external influences because it sustains functions necessary to survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Bisiacchi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, 35121, Padova, Italy. .,Padova Neuroscience Centre, PNC, Padova, Italy.
| | - Elisa Cainelli
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 8, 35121, Padova, Italy
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7
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Unmasking the relevance of hemispheric asymmetries—Break on through (to the other side). Prog Neurobiol 2020; 192:101823. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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8
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Esteves M, Sousa N, Leite-Almeida H. Righteousness (and lefteousness) of the old brain. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:4779-4780. [PMID: 31339862 PMCID: PMC6682508 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center, Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center, Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center, Braga, Braga, Portugal
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9
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Esteves M, Ganz E, Sousa N, Leite-Almeida H. Asymmetrical Brain Plasticity: Physiology and Pathology. Neuroscience 2020; 454:3-14. [PMID: 32027996 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The brain is inherently asymmetrical. How that attribute, manifest both structurally (volumetric, cytological, molecular) as well as functionally, relates to cognitive function, is not fully understood. Since the early descriptions of Paul Broca and Marc Dax it has been known that the processing of language in the brain is fundamentally asymmetrical. Contemporary imaging studies have corroborated early observations, and have also revealed significant functional links to multiple other systems, such as those sub serving memory or emotion. Recent studies have demonstrated that laterality is both plastic and adaptive. Learning and training have shown to affect regional changes in asymmetry, such as that observed in the volume of the planum temporale associated with musical practice. Increasing task complexity has been demonstrated to induce recruitment of contralateral regions, suggesting that laterality is a manifestation of functional reserve. Indeed, in terms of cognitive function, successful aging is often associated with a reduction of asymmetrical activity. The goal of this review is to survey and critically appraise the current literature addressing brain laterality, both morphological and functional, with particular emphasis on the asymmetrical plasticity associated with environmental factors and training. The plastic recruitment of contralateral areas associated with aging and unilateral lesions will be discussed in the context of the loss of asymmetry as a compensatory mechanism, and specific instances of maladaptive plasticity will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - E Ganz
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - N Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - H Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal.
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10
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Esteves M, Moreira PS, Marques P, Castanho TC, Magalhães R, Amorim L, Portugal‐Nunes C, Soares JM, Coelho A, Almeida A, Santos NC, Sousa N, Leite‐Almeida H. Asymmetrical subcortical plasticity entails cognitive progression in older individuals. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12857. [PMID: 30578611 PMCID: PMC6351824 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural brain asymmetries have been associated with cognition. However, it is not known to what extent neuropsychological parameters and structural laterality covary with aging. Seventy‐five subjects drawn from a larger normal aging cohort were evaluated in terms of MRI and neuropsychological parameters at two moments (M1 and M2), 18 months apart. In this time frame, asymmetry as measured by structural laterality index (ΔLI) was stable regarding both direction and magnitude in all areas. However, a significantly higher dispersion for this variation was observed in subcortical over cortical areas. Subjects with extreme increase in rightward lateralization of the caudate revealed increased M1 to M2 Stroop interference scores, but also a worsening of general cognition (MMSE). In contrast, subjects showing extreme increase in leftward lateralization of the thalamus presented higher increase in Stroop interference scores. In conclusion, while a decline in cognitive function was observed in the entire sample, regional brain asymmetries were relatively stable. Neuropsychological trajectories were associated with laterality changes in subcortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Pedro S. Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Paulo Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Teresa C. Castanho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Liliana Amorim
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Carlos Portugal‐Nunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - José M. Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Ana Coelho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Nadine C. Santos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite‐Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho Braga Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s ‐ PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center – Braga Braga Portugal
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