Myelin development in visual scene-network tracts beyond late childhood: A multimethod neuroimaging study. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meissner, Tobias W.; Genç, Erhan; Mädler, Burkhard; Weigelt, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Cortex. Volume 137(2021)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: White matter -- Maturation -- Connectivity -- Diffusion weighted imaging -- Scene recognition; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.12.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-9452

Abstract

Abstract: The visual scene-network—comprising the parahippocampal place area (PPA), retrosplenial cortex (RSC), and occipital place area (OPA)—shows a prolonged functional development. Structural development of white matter that underlies the scene-network has not been investigated despite its potential influence on scene-network function. The key factor for white matter maturation is myelination. However, research on myelination using the gold standard method of post-mortem histology is scarce. In vivo alternatives diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and myelin water imaging (MWI) so far report broad-scale findings that prohibit inferences concerning the scene-network. Here, we combine MWI, DWI tractography, and fMRI to investigate myelination in scene-network tracts in middle childhood, late childhood, and adulthood. We report increasing myelin from middle childhood to adulthood in right PPA-OPA, and trends towards increases in the left and right RSC-OPA tracts. Investigating tracts to regions highly connected with the scene-network, such as early visual cortex and the hippocampus, did not yield any significant age group differences. Our findings indicate that structural development coincides with functional development in the scene-network, possibly enabling structure–function interactions.