Individual Variability of Broca's Area of the Brain in Women

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2023 Oct;175(6):726-729. doi: 10.1007/s10517-023-05934-8. Epub 2023 Nov 17.

Abstract

In this article, we studied individual features of the macroscopic structure of Broca's area of the brains in 9 women (18 hemispheres) aged from 20 to 30 years, without any mental or neurological disorders. By using MRI, the structures of the sulci and gyri of the pars triangularis and pars opercularis of Broca's area were studied: the anterior and ascending rami of the lateral sulcus, the radial, diagonal, precentral, inferior frontal, and lateral sulci. We also studied the relationship between the pars triangularis and pars opercularis as well as their relationships with neighboring cortical structures. We measured the volume of the pars triangularis and pars opercularis and the thickness of their cortex. Significant individual variability in the location and relationships between the anterior ramus of the lateral sulcus and the ascending ramus of the lateral sulcus, as well as structural features of the pars triangularis and pars opercularis of Broca's area were demonstrated.

Keywords: Broca’s area; brain; individual variability; macroscopic structure; women.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Mapping
  • Broca Area* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cerebral Cortex*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging