Jae W. Song|Paul D. Mitchell|James Kolasinski|P. Ellen Grant|Albert M. Galaburda|Emi Takahashi
Asymmetry of White Matter Pathways in Developing Human Brains
little known emergence structural asymmetry white matter tracts early brain development examined whether asymmetry diffusion parameters limbic association white matter pathways emerged humans 23 brains ranging 15 gestational weeks gw 3 years age 11 ex vivo 12 vivo cases using highangular resolution diffusion imaging tractography agerelated development laterality observed limbic connectional pathway cingulum bundle fornix among studied corticocortical association pathways inferior longitudinal fasciculus ilf inferior frontooccipital fasciculus arcuate fasciculus ilf showed development agerelated laterality emerging early second trimester comparisons ages older younger 40 gw revealed leftward asymmetry cingulum bundle volume rightward asymmetry apparent diffusion coefficient leftward asymmetry fractional anisotropy ilf ages older 40 gw results suggest morphometric asymmetry cortical areas precedes emergence white matter pathway asymmetry future correlative studies investigate whether asymmetry anatomicallygenetically driven associated functional stimulation