Tracting the neural basis of music: Deficient structural connectivity underlying acquired amusia. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sihvonen, Aleksi J.; Ripollés, Pablo; Särkämö, Teppo; Leo, Vera; Rodríguez-Fornells, Antoni; Saunavaara, Jani; Parkkola, Riitta; Soinila, Seppo
• Is Part Of: Cortex. Volume 97(2017)
• Page Start: 255
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Amusia -- Music -- Stroke -- Tractography -- Tract-based spatial statistics; AF arcuate fasciculus -- ANOVA analysis of variance -- CC corpus callosum -- DT deterministic tractography -- DTI diffusion tensor imaging -- FA fractional anisotropy -- FAT frontal aslant tract -- FWE familywise error rate -- GMV grey matter volume -- IFG inferior frontal gyrus -- IFOF inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus -- IC internal capsule -- ILF inferior longitudinal fasciculus -- IPL inferior parietal lobule -- MBEA Montreal battery of evaluation of amusia -- MCA middle cerebral artery -- MD mean diffusivity -- MTG middle temporal gyrus -- NA non-amusic -- NRA non-recovered amusic -- pNA non-pitch-amusic -- pNRA non-recovered pitch-amusic -- pRA recovered pitch-amusic -- pre-SMA presupplementary motor area -- RD radial diffusivity -- rNA non-rhythm-amusic -- rNRA non-recovered rhythm-amusic -- RA recovered amusic -- RHD right hemisphere damage -- ROI region of interest -- rRA recovered rhythm-amusic -- SLF superior longitudinal fasciculus -- SMA supplementary motor area -- STG superior temporal gyrus -- TBSS tract-based spatial statistics -- UF uncinate fasciculus -- WM white matter; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.09.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-9452

Abstract

Abstract: Acquired amusia provides a unique opportunity to investigate the fundamental neural architectures of musical processing due to the transition from a functioning to defective music processing system. Yet, the white matter (WM) deficits in amusia remain systematically unexplored. To evaluate which WM structures form the neural basis for acquired amusia and its recovery, we studied 42 stroke patients longitudinally at acute, 3-month, and 6-month post-stroke stages using DTI [tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and deterministic tractography (DT)] and the Scale and Rhythm subtests of the Montreal Battery of Evaluation of Amusia (MBEA). Non-recovered amusia was associated with structural damage and subsequent degeneration in multiple WM tracts including the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), arcuate fasciculus (AF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), and frontal aslant tract (FAT), as well as in the corpus callosum (CC) and its posterior part (tapetum). In a linear regression analysis, the volume of the right IFOF was the main predictor of MBEA performance across time. Overall, our results provide a comprehensive picture of the large-scale deficits in intra- and interhemispheric structural connectivity underlying amusia, and conversely highlight which pathways are crucial for normal music perception.