Hou Fen, Liu Xia, Zhou Zhifeng, Zhou Jingyi, Li Hengguo
Medical Imaging Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:6756927. doi: 10.1155/2017/6756927. Epub 2017 Jun 1.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the resting-state interhemispheric functional connectivity in early blindness by using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC).
Sixteen early blind patients (EB group) and sixteen age- and gender-matched sighted control volunteers (SC group) were recruited in this study. We used VMHC to identify brain areas with significant differences in functional connectivity between different groups and used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to calculate the individual gray matter volume (GMV).
VMHC analysis showed a significantly lower connectivity in primary visual cortex, visual association cortex, and somatosensory association cortex in EB group compared to sighted controls. Additionally, VBM analysis revealed that GMV was reduced in the left lateral calcarine cortices in EB group compared to sighted controls, while it was increased in the left lateral middle occipital gyri. Statistical analysis showed the duration of blindness negatively correlated with VMHC in the bilateral middle frontal gyri, middle temporal gyri, and inferior temporal gyri.
Our findings help elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of EB. The interhemispheric functional connectivity was impaired in EB patients. Additionally, the middle frontal gyri, middle temporal gyri, and inferior temporal gyri may be potential target regions for rehabilitation.
本研究旨在通过体素镜像同伦连接（VMHC）来探究早期失明患者静息状态下的半球间功能连接。
本研究招募了16名早期失明患者（EB组）和16名年龄及性别匹配的视力正常对照志愿者（SC组）。我们使用VMHC来识别不同组之间功能连接存在显著差异的脑区，并使用基于体素的形态学测量（VBM）来计算个体灰质体积（GMV）。
VMHC分析显示，与视力正常对照组相比，EB组在初级视觉皮层、视觉联合皮层和体感联合皮层的连接性显著降低。此外，VBM分析显示，与视力正常对照组相比，EB组左侧距状沟皮质的GMV减少，而左侧枕中回的GMV增加。统计分析表明，失明持续时间与双侧额中回、颞中回和颞下回的VMHC呈负相关。
我们的研究结果有助于阐明早期失明的病理生理机制。早期失明患者的半球间功能连接受损。此外，额中回、颞中回和颞下回可能是康复的潜在目标区域。
