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Integrity of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus and impaired object recognition in children: a diffusion tensor imaging study

  1. ELS ORTIBUS1,
  2. JUDITH VERHOEVEN2,
  3. STEFAN SUNAERT2,
  4. INGELE CASTEELS3,
  5. PAUL DE COCK1,
  6. LIEVEN LAGAE1

Article first published online: 15 DEC 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04147.x

Issue

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology

Volume 54, Issue 1, pages 38–43, January 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

ORTIBUS, E., VERHOEVEN, J., SUNAERT, S., CASTEELS, I., DE COCK, P. and LAGAE, L. (2012), Integrity of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus and impaired object recognition in children: a diffusion tensor imaging study. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 54: 38–43. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04147.x

Author Information

  1. 1

     Paediatric Neurology Department, University Hospitals of the Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven

  2. 2

     Medical Imaging Centre, University Hospitals of the Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven

  3. 3

     Paediatric Ophthalmology Department, University Hospitals of the Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

*Dr Els Ortibus at Paediatric Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. E-mail: els.ortibus@uzleuven.be

  1. This article is commented on by Ashtari on pages 67 of this issue.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 DEC 2011
  2. Article first published online: 15 DEC 2011
  3. PUBLICATION DATA Accepted for publication 18th July 2011. ,

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Aim  In this study, we explored the integrity of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) by means of diffusion tensor imaging tractography in children with visual perceptual impairment, and more specifically, object recognition deficits, compared with typically developing children.

Methods  Eleven individuals (nine males, two females; mean age 7y 8mo; range 3y 5mo–13y) were assessed with the L94 visual perceptual battery after assessment of performance age. In all participants, an ophthalmological evaluation was carried out. Diffusion tensor imaging tractography of the ILF was performed. The mean fractional anisotropy was determined for every child and compared with data for 11 age- and sex-matched typically developing children.

Results  The mean fractional anisotropy value in the left ILF was consistently lower in the study participants than in the comparison group. The five children with L94 impairment showed a significantly lower ILF fractional anisotropy on the left as well as on the right side. Furthermore, the decrease in ILF fractional anisotropy was correlated with the number of impaired subtests.

Interpretation  The results suggest an association between ILF integrity loss and object recognition deficits. Moreover, the severity of clinical impairment is reflected in the degree of ILF integrity loss. Therefore, the ILF plays a potential role in object recognition.

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