Using diffusion tensor imaging to investigate how BDNF genotype influences thalamo-cortical tracts
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1
University of Auckland, School of Psychology, New Zealand
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2
University of Auckland, Center for Brain Research, New Zealand
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has previously been associated with variations in memory performance, learning ability, and hippocampal volume in humans. However, relatively little is known about the effects this polymorphism might have on connectivity via white matter pathways within the brain. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has previously been demonstrated as a valid method for investigating the integrity of white matter microstructure in vivo. Two thalamo-cortical tracts have previously been suggested to be particularly important to various forms of memory. Here therefore, using probabilistic tractography on DTI-derived data, we build on previous studies to compare the integrity of thalamo-cortical tracts in val- and met-BDNF allele carriers. Participants also completed the visual memory subsets of the Wechsler Memory Scale-3rd edition (WMS-III). We find that those carrying the met-allele have reduced connectivity (as measured by fractional anisotropy (FA)) in thalamo-cortical tracts seeded from the left- and right-medial dorsal thalamic nuclei. However, no difference has been observed in the FA values of thalamo-cortical tracts seeded from the left- and right-anterior thalamic nuclei. In support of previous studies, we also find that met-allele carriers have reduced accuracy on a visual memory task.
Acknowledgements
Supported by a Marsden Grant from the Royal Society of NZ.
References
Behrens, T. E. J., Johansen-Berg, H., Woolrich, M. W., Smith, S. M., Wheeler-Kingshott, C. A. M., Boulby, P. A., Barker, G. J., Sillery, E. L., Sheehan, K., Ciccarelli, O., Thompson, A. J., Brady, J. M., and Matthews, P. M. (2003). Non-invasive mapping of connections between human thalamus and cortex using diffusion imaging. Nature Neuroscience 6:7, 750-757.
Keywords:
BDNF,
Diffusion Tensor Imaging,
Probabilistic Tractography,
thalamocortical projections,
imaging genetics,
Thalamus,
Memory
Conference:
ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Memory
Citation:
Mckay
NS,
Iwabuchi
SJ,
Thompson
CS and
Kirk
IJ
(2012). Using diffusion tensor imaging to investigate how BDNF genotype influences thalamo-cortical tracts.
Conference Abstract:
ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00194
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Received:
13 Oct 2012;
Published Online:
17 Nov 2012.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Nicole S Mckay, University of Auckland, School of Psychology, Auckland, New Zealand, nicole.mckay@auckland.ac.nz