Determination of the posterior boundary of Wernicke's area based on multimodal connectivity profiles

Abstract

Wernicke’s area is one of the most important language regions and has been widely studied in both basic research and clinical neurology. However, its exact anatomy has been controversial. In this study, we proposed to address the anatomy of Wernicke’s area by investigating different connectivity profiles. First, the posterior superior temporal gyrus (STG), traditionally called “Wernicke’s area”, was parcellated into three component subregions with diffusion MRI. Then, whole-brain anatomical connectivity, resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) analyses were used to establish the anatomical, resting-state and task-related coactivation network of each subregion to identify which subregions participated in the language network. In addition, behavioral domain analysis, meta-analyses of semantics, execution speech, and phonology and intraoperative electrical stimulation were used to determine which subregions were involved in language processing. Anatomical connectivity, RSFC and MACM analyses consistently identified that the two anterior subregions in the posterior STG primarily participated in the language network, whereas the most posterior subregion in the temporoparietal junction area primarily participated in the default mode network. Moreover, the behavioral domain analyses, meta-analyses of semantics, execution speech and phonology and intraoperative electrical stimulation mapping also confirmed that only the two anterior subregions were involved in language processing, whereas the most posterior subregion primarily participated in social cognition. Our findings revealed a convergent posterior anatomical border for Wernicke’s area and indicated that the brain’s functional subregions can be identified on the basis of its specific structural and functional connectivity patterns.

Changed Hub and Corresponding Functional Connectivity of Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Major Depressive Disorder

“…Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), which primarily reflects ongoing spontaneous fluctuations in the human brain, can non-invasively investigate the functional coupling between brain regions to detect intrinsic functional changes and abnormal functional modules (Fox et al, 2006; Buckner et al, 2009; Power et al, 2011; Yeo et al, 2011; Wang et al, 2012, 2015a,b; Cole et al, 2014; Wang J. et al, 2016; Mears and Pollard, 2016). In the brain, a few highly connected and central regions, the so-called hub nodes, play a key role in the global topology of the brain’s network (Hagmann et al, 2008; Bullmore and Sporns, 2009).…”

Functional topography of the right inferior parietal lobule structured by anatomical connectivity profiles

“…On the basis of differences in their structural connectivity patterns, many cortical and subcortical areas have been parcellated to define their functional subregions [Anwander et al, 2007;Behrens et al, 2003;Fan et al, 2013;Johansen-Berg et al, 2004;Liu et al, 2013;Mars et al, 2011;Neubert et al, 2014;Sallet et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2012Wang et al, , 2015aZhang et al, 2014]. On the basis of differences in their structural connectivity patterns, many cortical and subcortical areas have been parcellated to define their functional subregions [Anwander et al, 2007;Behrens et al, 2003;Fan et al, 2013;Johansen-Berg et al, 2004;Liu et al, 2013;Mars et al, 2011;Neubert et al, 2014;Sallet et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2012Wang et al, , 2015aZhang et al, 2014].…”

Cortico-cortical evoked hemodynamic responses in human language systems using intraoperative near-infrared spectroscopy during direct cortical stimulation

“…Recently, advanced tools such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, diffusion tensor imaging, and navigated http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2016.07.037 0304-3940/© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. transcranial magnetic stimulation have enabled researchers to identify functional areas of the cortex and anatomical pathways of the subcortical fibers in language networks [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. These techniques may not only be useful for pre-surgical planning but also intraoperative mapping [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”