Stroke disconnectome decodes reading networks

• Published in: Brain Structure and Function Vol. 227; no. 9; pp. 2897 - 2908
• Main Authors: Forkel, Stephanie J., Labache, Loïc, Nachev, Parashkev, Thiebaut de Schotten, Michel, Hesling, Isabelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain damage; Brain injury; Brain mapping; Cell Biology; Cognitive ability; Dyslexia; Language; Language thought relationship; Linguistics; Literacy; Longitudinal studies; Medical imaging; Nervous system; Neuroimaging; Neurology; Neurosciences; Original; Original Article; Phonology; Reading comprehension; Stroke; Substantia alba; Written language; fMRI; Reading; Stroke; Language; Disconnection; Exner; VOF
• ISSN: 1863-2653; 1863-2661; 1863-2661; 0340-2061
• DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02575-x

Cognitive functional neuroimaging has been around for over 30 years and has shed light on the brain areas relevant for reading. However, new methodological developments enable mapping the interaction between functional imaging and the underlying white matter networks. In this study, we used such a novel method, called the disconnectome, to decode the reading circuitry in the brain. We used the resulting disconnection patterns to predict a typical lesion that would lead to reading deficits after brain damage. Our results suggest that white matter connections critical for reading include fronto-parietal U-shaped fibres and the vertical occipital fasciculus (VOF). The lesion most predictive of a reading deficit would impinge on the left temporal, occipital, and inferior parietal gyri. This novel framework can systematically be applied to bridge the gap between the neuropathology of language and cognitive neuroscience.