Diffusion tensor studies dissociated two fronto-temporal pathways in the human memory system

Neuroimage. 2007 Jan 15;34(2):827-38. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.10.009. Epub 2006 Nov 21.

Abstract

Recent functional neuroimaging studies have shown that multiple cortical areas are involved in memory encoding and retrieval. However, the underlying anatomical connections among these memory-related areas in humans remain elusive due to methodological limitations. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a technique based on detecting the diffusion of water molecules from magnetic resonance images. DTI allows non-invasive mapping of anatomical connections and gives a comprehensive picture of connectivity throughout the entire brain. By combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and DTI, we show that memory-related areas in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) each connect with memory-related areas in the left temporal cortex. This result suggests there are two pathways between prefrontal cortex and temporal cortex related to the human memory system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Neural Pathways / physiology*