Gray Matter Volume Changes over the Whole Brain in the Bulbar-and Spinal-onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Voxel-based Morphometry Study

Objective To investigate cerebral structural signatures of the bulbar-and spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) using voxel-based morphometry on magnetic resonance imaging.Methods The MR structural images of the brain were obtained from 65 ALS patients(15 bulbar-onset, 50 spinalonset) and 65 normal controls(NC) on a 3.0 T MRI system. Gray matter(GM) volume changes were investigated by voxel-based morphometry, and the distribution of the brain regions with volume changes was compared between ALS and normal controls, as well as between bulbar-onset and spinal-onset ALS based on Neuromorphometrics atlas.Results On voxel-level the decreased volume of brain regions in ALS patients was located in the right precentral gyrus(r Prc Gy) and right middle frontal gyrus compared with that in NC. The bulbar-onset ALS presented extramotor cortex atrophy(fronto-temporal pattern), including left medial orbital gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus; the spinal-onset ALS suffered from motor cortex atrophy(r Prc Gy dominance) and extra-motor cortex atrophy(fronto-temporal and extra-fronto-temporal pattern) compared with NC. The spinal-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left postcentral gyrus and bulbar-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left middle temporal gyrus compared with each other. Conclusions The asymmetric GM atrophy of the motor cortex and extra-motor cortex represents the common MRI structural signatures of spinal-onset ALS, and sole extra-motor cortex atrophy represents the structural signatures of bulbar-onset ALS. The present study also demonstrated that the pattern of GM damage is likely to distribute wider in spinal-onset ALS than in bulbar-onset ALS.

Regional gray matter abnormality in hepatic myelopathy patients after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: a voxel-based morphometry study

Hepatic myelopathy is a complication seen in patients with chronic liver failure with physiologic or iatrogenic portosystemic shunting. The main symptom is progressive lower limb dyskinesia. The role of the brain motor control center in hepatic myelopathy is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the gray matter changes in patients with hepatic myelopathy secondary to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and to examine their clinical relevance. This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty-three liver failure patients with hepatic myelopathy(hepatic myelopathy group), 23 liver failure patients without hepatic myelopathy(non-hepatic myelopathy group) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and 23 demographically matched healthy volunteers were enrolled from March 2014 to November 2016 at Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University(Fourth Military Medical University), China. High-resolution magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo brain imaging was acquired. Group differences in regional gray matter were assessed using voxel-based morphometry analysis. The relationship between aberrant gray matter and motor characteristics was investigated. Results demonstrated that compared with the non-hepatic myelopathy group, gray matter volume abnormalities were asymmetric, with decreased volume in the left insula(P = 0.003), left thalamus(P = 0.029), left superior frontal gyrus(P = 0.006), and right middle cingulate cortex(P = 0.021), and increased volume in the right caudate nucleus(P = 0.017), corrected with open-source software. The volume of the right caudate nucleus in the hepatic myelopathy group negatively correlated with the lower limb clinical rating of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment(r = –0.53, P = 0.01). Compared with healthy controls, patients with and without hepatic myelopathy exhibited overall increased gray matter volume in both thalami, and decreased gray matter volume in both putamen, as well as in the globus pallidus, cerebellum, and vermis. The gray matter abnormalities we found predominantly involved motor-related regions, and may be associated with motor dysfunction. An enlarged right caudate nucleus might help to predict weak lower limb motor performance in patients with preclinical hepatic myelopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University(Fourth Military Medical University), China(approval No. 20140227-6) on February 27, 2014.

Differences in brain structure in patients with distinct sites of chronic pain:A voxel-based morphometric analysis

A reduction in gray matter volume is common in patients with chronic back pain, and different types of pain are associated with gray matter abnormalities in distinct brain regions. To examine differ- ences in brain morphology in patients with low back pain or neck and upper back pain, we investi- gated changes in gray matter volume in chronic back pain patients having different sites of pain using voxel-based morphometry. A reduction in cortical gray matter volume was found primarily in the left postcentral gyrus and in the left precuneus and bilateral cuneal cortex of patients with low back pain. In these patients, there was an increase in subcortical gray matter volume in the bilateral putamen and accumbens, right pallidum, right caudate nucleus, and left amygdala. In upper back pain patients, reduced cortical gray matter volume was found in the left precentral and left postcen- tral cortices. Our findings suggest that regional gray matter volume abnormalities in low back pain patients are more extensive than in upper back pain patients. Subcortical gray matter volume in- creases are found only in patients with low back pain.

Regional brain structural abnormality in ischemic stroke patients:a voxel-based morphometry study

Our previous study used regional homogeneity analysis and found that activity in some brain areas of patients with ischemic stroke changed significantly. In the current study, we examined structural changes in these brain regions by taking structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of 11 ischemic stroke patients and 15 healthy participants, and analyzing the data using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with healthy participants, patients exhibited higher gray matter density in the left inferior occipital gyrus and right anterior white matter tract. In contrast, gray matter density in the right cerebellum, left precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus was less in ischemic stroke patients. The changes of gray matter density in the middle frontal gyrus were negatively associated with the clin- ical rating scales of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment （r = -0.609, P = 0.047） and the left middle temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with the clinical rating scales of the nervous functional deficiency scale （r = -0.737, P = 0.010）. Our findings call objectively identify the functional abnormality in some brain regions of ischemic stroke patients.

White matter abnormalities in young males with antisocial personality disorder Evidence from voxel-based morphometry-diffeomorphic anatomical registration using exponentiated lie algebra analysis

Voxel-based morphometry-diffeomorphic anatomical registration using exponentiated lie algebra analysis was used to investigate the structural characteristics of white matter in young males with antisocial personality disorder （APD） and healthy controls without APD. The results revealed that APD subjects, relative to healthy subjects, exhibited increased white matter volume in the bilateral prefrontal lobe, right insula, precentral gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, right inferior parietal Iobule, right precuneus, right middle occipital lobe, right parahippocampal gyrus and bilateral cingulate, and decreased volume in the middle temporal cortex and right cerebellum. The white matter volume in the medial frontal gyrus was significantly correlated with antisocial type scores on the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire in APD subjects. These experimental findings indicate that white matter abnormalities in several brain areas may contribute to antisocial behaviors in APD subjects.

Voxel-Based Morphometric Study on Chinese Blind Men's Brain Structure

Many studies have shown the functional relevance of cross-modal plasticity in blind men. In order to study the changes of their brain structure, voxel-based morphometry （VBM） methods are used. The regional gray matter （GM） and white matter （WM） concentrations of magnetic resonance （MR） images from 11 blind people and 9 sighted control subjects are compared using standard VBM. Optimized VBM is also discussed to measure the absolute local volume of GM or WM. Consistent results are achieved by statistical analysis with these methods. There are distinct differences not only in visual cortex but also the sensory area, auditory area and motor area. GM concentrations in blind men significantly decreased in Brodmann 7 and 22. While in Brodmann 18 and 19, GM concentration increased. GM volumes decreased in Brodmann 3, 4, 6, 9 and 45. On the other hand, both WM concentration and volume increased in Brodmann 7. These results suggest that early visual deprivation can lead to changes in the brain structural anatomy which is consistent with the cortical cross-modal reorganization found by functional imaging. It may help to discover the relationship between the brain structural anatomy and the brain functional data of blind men at a macroscopic level from neuroimaging perspective.

Brain structure in post-traumatic stress disorder A voxel-based morphometry analysis

This study compared the difference in brain structure in 12 mine disaster survivors with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, 7 cases of improved post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and 14 controls who experienced the same mine disaster but did not suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, using the voxel-based morphometry method. The correlation between differences in brain structure and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms was also investigated. Results showed that the gray matter volume was the highest in the trauma control group, followed by the symptoms-improved group, and the lowest in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. Compared with the symptoms-improved group, the gray matter volume in the lingual gyrus of the right occipital lobe was reduced in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. Compared with the trauma control group, the gray matter volume in the right middle occipital gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus was reduced in the symptoms-improved group. Compared with the trauma control group, the gray matter volume in the left superior parietal lo- bule and right superior frontal gyrus was reduced in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. The gray matter volume in the left superior parietal Iobule was significantly positively correlated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory subscale score in the symptoms-improved group and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group （r = 0.477, P = 0.039）. Our findings indicate that （1） chronic post-traumatic stress disorder patients have gray matter structural damage in the prefrontal lobe, oc- cipital lobe, and parietal lobe, （2） after post-traumatic stress, the disorder symptoms are improved and gray matter structural damage is reduced, but cannot recover to the trauma-control level, and （3） the superior parietal Iobule is possibly associated with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder patients exhibit gray matter abnormalities.

Application of voxel-based morphometric method to detect brain changes in children with non-cyanotic congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND Congenital heart disease(CHD)is a cardiovascular malformation caused by abnormal heart and/or vascular development in the fetus.In children with CHD,abnormalities in the development and function of the nervous system are common.At present,there is a lack of research on the preoperative neurological development and injury in young children with non-cyanotic CHD.AIM To determine the changes in white matter,gray matter,and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in children with non-cyanotic CHD as compared with healthy controls.METHODS Children diagnosed with non-cyanotic CHD on ultrasonography(n=54)and healthy control subjects(n=35)were included in the study.All the subjects were aged 1-3 years.Brain MRI was performed prior to surgery for CHD.The SPM v12 software was used to calculate the volumes of the gray matter,white matter,CSF,and the whole brain(sum of the gray matter,white matter,and CSF volumes).Volume differences between the two groups were analyzed.Voxel-based morphometry was used to compare specific brain regions with statistically significant atrophy.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the study group had significantly reduced whole-brain white matter volume(P<0.05),but similar whole-brain gray matter,CSF,and whole-brain volumes(P>0.05).As compared with the healthy controls,children with non-cyanotic CHD had mild underdevelopment in the white matter of the anterior central gyrus,the posterior central gyrus,and the pulvinar.CONCLUSION Children with non-cyanotic CHD show decreased white matter volume before surgery,and this volume reduction is mainly concentrated in the somatosensory and somatic motor nerve regions.

基于VBM技术的杜仲腰痛丸干预腰椎间盘突出症慢性下肢痛模型大鼠的实验研究

目的基于体素的磁共振形态学(Voxel-based morphometry,VBM)技术和疼痛行为学技术,探讨杜仲腰痛丸对腰椎间盘突出症(LDH)慢性下肢痛模型大鼠脑结构及形态学改变的影响,阐明杜仲腰痛丸的作用效应,为杜仲腰痛丸更好地应用于临床提供理论和实验依据。方法将SD雄性大鼠72只,随机分为正常组、模型组、治疗组,模型组和治疗组建立自体髓核移植型腰椎间盘突出症慢性下肢痛大鼠模型。治疗组给予杜仲腰痛丸药液259.2 mg·kg^-1灌胃,每日2次,正常组和模型组给予相同剂量的生理盐水灌胃。各组分别于给药前0 d和给药后2 d、7 d、14 d、21 d、28 d进行疼痛行为学观察,主要包括机械缩足反射阈值(Mechanical withdrawal threshold,MWT)测定和热缩足反射潜伏期(Thermal withdrawal latency,TWL)测定。每组随机选取4只大鼠分别于给药前0 d和给药后14 d、28 d行T2加权结构像和VBM图像采集,采用重复测量方差分析对灰质体积进行统计分析。结果(1)正常组和模型组大鼠MWT值在给药前0 d至给药后28 d内保持相对稳定水平;与同时间点正常组比,模型组MWT值下降(P<0.05)。治疗组大鼠MWT值在给药前0 d、给药后2 d、7 d分别与同时间点模型组大鼠MWT值比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);而在给药后14 d、21 d、28 d分别比同时间点模型组大鼠MWT值明显升高(P<0.05)。治疗组大鼠MWT值在给药后21 d、28 d分别与同时间点正常组大鼠MWT值比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(2)各组TWL值比较结果与MWT值的比较结果相似。(3)3组大鼠不同时间点脑结构区域比较存在交互作用,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。具体表现为左外侧内嗅皮层、左初级躯体感觉皮层、右嗅球、右视皮层、右海马、右后晶状体皮层、胼胝体及双侧皮质下灰质这些脑区的灰质体积增加。结论(1)杜仲腰痛丸能提高腰椎间盘突出症慢性下肢痛模型大鼠的MWT值和TWL值,具有缓解腰椎间盘突出症慢性疼痛作用。(2)杜仲腰痛丸可以部分改善或逆转异常的脑形态及脑结构,通过治“脑”发挥止痛作用。

Abnormal volumetric brain morphometry and cerebral blood flow in adolescents with depression

BACKGROUND Prior research has demonstrated that the brains of adolescents with depression exhibit distinct structural alterations.However,preliminary studies have documented the pathophysiological changes in certain brain regions,such as the cerebellum,highlighting a need for further research to support the current understanding of this disease.AIM To study brain changes in depressed adolescents.METHODS This study enrolled 34 adolescents with depression and 34 age-,sex-,and education-level-matched healthy control(HC)individuals.Structural and functional alterations were identified when comparing the brains of these two participant groups through voxel-based morphometry and cerebral blood flow(CBF)analysis,respectively.Associations between identified brain alterations and the severity of depressive symptoms were explored through Pearson correlation analyses.RESULTS The cerebellum,superior frontal gyrus,cingulate gyrus,pallidum,middle frontal gyrus,angular gyrus,thalamus,precentral gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,superior temporal gyrus,inferior frontal gyrus,and supplementary motor areas of adolescents with depression showed an increase in brain volume compared to HC individuals.These patients with depression further presented with a pronounced drop in CBF in the left pallidum(group=98,and peak t=-4.4324),together with increased CBF in the right percental gyrus(PerCG)(group=90,and peak t=4.5382).In addition,17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were significantly correlated with the increased volume in the opercular portion of the left inferior frontal gyrus(r=-0.5231,P<0.01).CONCLUSION The right PerCG showed structural and CBF changes,indicating that research on this part of the brain could offer insight into the pathophysiological causes of impaired cognition.

Magnetic resonance morphometry of the loss of gray matter volume in Parkinson's disease patients

Voxel-based morphometry can be used to quantitatively compare structural differences and func-tional changes of gray matter in subjects. In the present study, we compared gray matter images of 32 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 25 healthy controls using voxel-based morphometry based on 3.0 T high-field magnetic resonance T1-weighted imaging and clinical neurological scale scores. Results showed that the scores in Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were lower in patients compared with controls. In particular, the scores of visuospatial/executive function items in Montreal Cognitive Assessment were significantly reduced, but mean scores of non-motor symptoms significantly increased, in patients with Parkinson’s dis-ease. In addition, gray matter volume was significantly diminished in Parkinson’s disease patients compared with normal controls, including bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral occipital lobe, bilateral parietal lobe, bilateral frontal lobe, bilateral insular lobe, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral amygdale, right uncus, and right posterior lobe of the cerebel um. These findings indicate that voxel-based morphometry can accurately and quantitatively assess the loss of gray matter volume in patients with Parkinson＇s disease, and provide essential neuroimaging evidence for multisystem pathological mechanisms involved in Parkinson’s disease.

Voxel-based morphometry(VBM)MRI analysis of gray matter in patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss

Objective To investigate the changes of brain gray matter volume in patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss by voxel based morphometry(VBM).Methods 16 age-and education-matched healthy controls and 42 patients with occupational noise induced hearing loss,including 27 in mild group and 15 in severe group,received MRI 3D-FSPGR sequence T1WI sagittal scan,and then underwent VBM of brain gray matter volume data analysis.Results The brain gray matter volume of the left occipitotemporal lateral gyrus,the anterior cingulate gyrus,the bilateral angular gyrus,the precuneus and the near midline area of cerebellum differed between the experimental group and the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The volume of gray matter in specific brain areas of patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss changed,and the effect of noise on brain structure was revealed from the perspective of imaging.

Volume Gain of Brainstem on Medication-Overuse Headache Using Voxel-Based Morphometry

Background： Histopathology identified the anatomical and molecular abnormalities ofbrainstem nuclei in migraine patients. However, the exact whole brainstem structural changes in vivo have not yet been identified in medication-overuse headache （MOH） transformed from migraine. The aim of this study was to investigate the regional volume changes over the whole brainstem in the MOH patients using voxel-based morphometry （VBM） in vivo.Methods： High-resolution three-dimensional structural images were obtained using a 3.0-Tesla magnetic resonance system from 36 MOH patients and 32 normal controls （NCs） who were consecutively recruited from the International Headache Center, Chinese People＇s Liberation Army General Hospital, from March 2013 to June 2016. VBM was used to assess the brainstem structural alteration in the MOH patients, and voxel-wise correlation was performed to evaluate the relationship with the clinical characteristics.Results： The brainstem region with increased volume located in the left ventrolateral periaqueductal gray （MNI coordinate： -1, -33, -8）, ventral tegmental area （MNI coordinate： 0, -22, - 12）, bilateral substantia nigra （MNI coordinate： -8, - 16, - 12, 9, - 16, - 12）, and trigeminal root entry zone （MNI coordinate： -19, -29, -31; 19, -32, -29） in MOH patients compared with NCs. The headache visual analog scale score was positively related with the left rostral ventromedial medulla （RVM） （MNI coordinate： -1, -37, -56; cluster size： 20; r = 0.602） in the MOH patients.Conclusions： The regional volume gain ofbrainstem could underlie the neuromechanism of impaired ascending and descending pathway in the MOH patients, and the left RVM volume alteration could imply the impaired tolerance ofnociceptive pain input and could be used to assess the headache disability in the MOH patients.

Multimodal abnormalities of brain structures in adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder:An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)in adolescents and young adults contributes significantly to global morbidity,with inconsistent findings on brain structural changes from structural magnetic resonance imaging studies.Activation likeli-hood estimation(ALE)offers a method to synthesize these diverse findings and identify consistent brain anomalies.METHODS We performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for neuroi-maging studies on MDD among adolescents and young adults published up to November 19,2023.Two independent researchers performed the study selection,quality assessment,and data extraction.The ALE technique was employed to synthesize findings on localized brain function anomalies in MDD patients,which was supplemented by sensitivity analyses.RESULTS Twenty-two studies comprising fourteen diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)studies and eight voxel-based morphome-try(VBM)studies,and involving 451 MDD patients and 465 healthy controls(HCs)for DTI and 664 MDD patients and 946 HCs for VBM,were included.DTI-based ALE demonstrated significant reductions in fractional anisotropy(FA)values in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in adolescents and young adults with MDD compared to HCs,with no regions exhibiting increased FA values.VBM-based ALE did not demonstrate significant alterations in gray matter volume.Sensitivity analyses highlighted consistent findings in the right caudate head(11 of 14 analyses),right insula(10 of 14 analyses),and right lentiform nucleus putamen(11 of 14 analyses).CONCLUSION Structural alterations in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in young MDD patients may contribute to its recurrent nature,offering insights for targeted therapies.

Structural changes in the gray matter of unmedicated patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a voxel-based morphometric study

The aim of the current study was to use whole brain voxel-based morphometry（VBM）to assess the gray matter（GM）changes in unmedicated patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder（OCD）compared with normal controls.We compared the GM volumes in28 patients with 22 matched healthy controls using a1.5T MRI.Three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were obtained from all participants.VBM was performed to detect GM volume differences between the two groups.We detected increased regional GM volumes in the bilateral middle temporal gyri,bilateral middle occipital gyri,bilateral globus pallidus,right inferior parietal gyrus,left superior parietal gyrus,right parahippocampus,right supramarginal gyrus,right medial superior frontal gyrus,and left inferior frontal opercular cortex in the OCD patients relative to controls（P〈0.001,uncorrected,cluster size〉100 voxels）.No decreased GM volume was found in the OCD group compared with normal controls.Our findings suggest that structural changes in the GM are not limited to fronto-striato-thalamic circuits in the pathogenesis of OCD.Temporo-parietal cortex may also play an important role.

大学新生网络成瘾的静息态脑功能结构特征

为了找出涉及网络成瘾(IAD)机制的关键脑区,同时探查IAD者脑功能和结构特征,招募IAD组和对照组大学新生被试,扫描和比较分析静息态功能磁共振和结构磁共振数据.结果表明:网络成瘾者的右枕叶和右舌回的静息态脑自发活性呈亢进,左眶额叶呈降低;右海马旁回、右枕叶和右舌回的皮层灰质密度显著降低;右枕叶的功能和结构异常水平都与网络成瘾量表(IAT)分显著相关.右枕叶在网络成瘾的发病机制中的作用值得进一步探察.

老年人情绪记忆相关脑结构改变基于体素形态学测量研究

目的采用基于体素形态学测量(VBM)和行为学相结合的方法,检测老年人全脑容积及情绪记忆成绩,以探讨老年人情绪记忆增强效应相关脑区形态学特点。方法 47名健康老年人参加实验。实验过程包括情绪记忆行为学检测和MRI两个阶段,其中行为学检测包括记忆编码和再认,并记录行为学成绩。利用3.0T MRI采集全脑容积数据。采用VBM5对3D MRI数据进行分割处理,获得全脑灰质、脑白质和脑脊液容积数据。运用SPM5和SPSS13.0统计软件包进行相关统计分析。结果老年人对情绪图片再认正确率较中性图片正确率高(t=2.08,P=0.04),两种图片的反应正确率与年龄呈显著负相关(中性r:=0.58,P=0.00;情绪r:=0.30,P=0.04),但情绪记忆增强效应与年龄呈显著正相关(r=0.37,P=0.01),情绪记忆增强效应主要相关脑区包括左侧前额叶背外侧及右侧枕叶。结论老年人行为学成绩随年龄增长逐渐下降,但情绪记忆增强效应仍然存在,并从脑形态结构水平证实了前额叶背外侧和枕叶脑区保持情绪记忆增强效应的重要脑区,从而进一步扩展了功能成像的相关研究结果。

基于β估计校正值的低场功能磁共振成像分析方法

针对低场功能磁共振成像(fMRI)非脑组织信号变化的影响,提出一种有效的图像分析方法以改进大脑功能定位的结果.综合利用基于形变模型的图像分割算法和基于像素形态测量学(voxel-basedmorphometry,VBM)的统计分析方法提取脑组织,生成显式掩模,并构建分析掩模图像以修正一般线性模型的β参数估计值,使得VBM的统计推断只针对大脑组织,消除了非脑组织信号变化的影响.应用实例表明,这种方法可有效去除背景、头骨及头皮信号变化引起的伪激活区,提高了低场fMRI分析的可靠性和准确性.

现代舞训练与弦乐训练对脑灰质体积的差异影响

目前舞蹈与音乐两种训练对脑灰质结构影响的差异尚不明确。本研究利用基于体素的形态学分析方法(voxel-based morphometry,VBM),比较现代舞训练被试、弦乐训练被试与对照组被试的脑结构磁共振数据。结果表明现代舞训练组在涉及感觉运动控制的皮层、皮层下结构及小脑多个区域出现灰质体积的显著增加与减少;弦乐训练组则在与音乐训练直接相关的听-动-读皮层出现灰质体积的显著增加。这一发现提示现代舞训练可能系统性地影响广泛脑区的灰质结构,弦乐训练可能局部地改变了具体功能脑区的灰质结构,两种训练对脑灰质结构的影响模式存在差异。

双相情感障碍Ⅰ型患者脑灰质体积变化的偏侧性

目的探索双相情感障碍I型患者脑灰质体积的变化,进一步研究双相情感障碍I型的病理生理学机制。方法于2012年1月-2014年7月,随机入组22例符合《精神障碍诊断与统计手册(第4版)》(DSM-IV)诊断标准的双相情感障碍I型患者(患者组)和25名健康对照组,两组年龄、性别及受教育年限匹配良好(P均>0.05)。收集两组头部结构相磁共振影像资料,使用SPM8对结构相影像资料进行分割、标准化、平滑,采用两独立样本t检验,分析两组灰质体积有统计学差异的脑区。结果与对照组相比,患者组灰质体积降低的脑区包括右侧颞上回(P<0.01)、右侧中央前回(P<0.01)及右侧楔叶(P<0.01);患者组灰质体积增大的脑区包括左侧小脑上部(P<0.01)、左侧颞中回(P<0.01)及左侧颞下回(P=0.001)。结论与健康对照组相比,双相情感障碍I型患者灰质体积降低的脑区主要集中于右侧,体积增大的脑区主要集中于左侧。