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Altered fronto-striato-thalamic connectivity in children with Tourette syndrome assessed with diffusion tensor MRI and probabilistic fiber tracking.

Authors :
Makki MI
Govindan RM
Wilson BJ
Behen ME
Chugani HT
Source :
Journal of child neurology [J Child Neurol] 2009 Jun; Vol. 24 (6), pp. 669-78.
Publication Year :
2009

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine whether abnormal connectivity of the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit underlies the morphological changes in subcortical structures of patients with Tourette syndrome and to correlate these changes with neurobehavioral measures. A total of 18 children with Tourette syndrome and 12 age-matched healthy controls underwent diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. Tractography of the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit was achieved using probability distribution function of individual voxels. The Tourette syndrome group had significantly lower probability of connection between caudate nucleus and anterior-dorsolateral-frontal cortex on the left (P = .038). Obsessive-compulsive behavior was negatively associated with connectivity score of the left caudate and anterior dorsolateral frontal cortex (P = .01) and was positively associated with connectivity score for the subcallosal gyrus (P = .009) and for the lentiform nucleus (P = .008). The abnormal connectivity among components of the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit bilaterally (ie, seeds on the caudate and thalamus) in patients with Tourette syndrome provides direct evidence for the involvement of these circuits in the pathophysiology.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1708-8283
Volume :
24
Issue :
6
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of child neurology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
19491113
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073808327838