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Reduction in White Matter Connectivity, Revealed by Diffusion Tensor Imaging, May Account for Age-related Changes in Face Perception

2008; The MIT Press; Volume: 20; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1162/jocn.2008.20.2.268

1530-8898

Cibu Thomas, Linda Moya, Galia Avidan, Kate Humphreys, Kwan Jin Jung, Mary A. Peterson, Marlene Behrmann,

Facial Nerve Paralysis Treatment and Research

February 01 2008 Reduction in White Matter Connectivity, Revealed by Diffusion Tensor Imaging, May Account for Age-related Changes in Face Perception Cibu Thomas, Cibu Thomas 1Carnegie Mellon University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Linda Moya, Linda Moya 1Carnegie Mellon University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Galia Avidan, Galia Avidan 2Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Kate Humphreys, Kate Humphreys 1Carnegie Mellon University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Kwan Jin Jung, Kwan Jin Jung 1Carnegie Mellon University3University of Pittsburgh Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Mary A. Peterson, Mary A. Peterson 4University of Arizona Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Marlene Behrmann Marlene Behrmann 1Carnegie Mellon University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Author and Article Information Cibu Thomas 1Carnegie Mellon University Linda Moya 1Carnegie Mellon University Galia Avidan 2Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel Kate Humphreys 1Carnegie Mellon University Kwan Jin Jung 1Carnegie Mellon University3University of Pittsburgh Mary A. Peterson 4University of Arizona Marlene Behrmann 1Carnegie Mellon University Online Issn: 1530-8898 Print Issn: 0898-929X © 2008 Massachusetts Institute of Technology2008 Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (2008) 20 (2): 268–284. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2008.20025 Cite Icon Cite Permissions Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Search Site Citation Cibu Thomas, Linda Moya, Galia Avidan, Kate Humphreys, Kwan Jin Jung, Mary A. Peterson, Marlene Behrmann; Reduction in White Matter Connectivity, Revealed by Diffusion Tensor Imaging, May Account for Age-related Changes in Face Perception. J Cogn Neurosci 2008; 20 (2): 268–284. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2008.20025 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll JournalsJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience Search Advanced Search Abstract An age-related decline in face processing, even under conditions in which learning and memory are not implicated, has been well documented, but the mechanism underlying this perceptual alteration remains unknown. Here, we examine whether this behavioral change may be accounted for by a reduction in white matter connectivity with age. To this end, we acquired diffusion tensor imaging data from 28 individuals aged 18 to 86 years and quantified the number of fibers, voxels, and fractional anisotropy of the two major tracts that pass through the fusiform gyrus, the pre-eminent face processing region in the ventral temporal cortex. We also measured the ability of a subset of these individuals to make fine-grained discriminations between pairs of faces and between pairs of cars. There was a significant reduction in the structural integrity of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF) in the right hemisphere as a function of age on all dependent measures and there were also some changes in the left hemisphere, albeit to a lesser extent. There was also a clear age-related decrement in accuracy of perceptual discrimination, especially for more challenging perceptual discriminations, and this held to a greater degree for faces than for cars. Of greatest relevance, there was a robust association between the reduction of IFOF integrity in the right hemisphere and the decline in face perception, suggesting that the alteration in structural connectivity between the right ventral temporal and frontal cortices may account for the age-related difficulties in face processing. This content is only available as a PDF. © 2008 Massachusetts Institute of Technology2008 You do not currently have access to this content.