Connectivity-based parcellation of the human frontal polar cortex

Moayedi, M., Salomons, T. V., Dunlop, K. A. M., Downar, J. and Davis, K. D. (2015) Connectivity-based parcellation of the human frontal polar cortex. Brain Structure and Function, 220 (5). pp. 2603-2616. ISSN 1863-2661 doi: 10.1007/s00429-014-0809-6

Abstract/Summary

The frontal pole corresponds to Brodmann area (BA) 10, the largest single architectonic area in the human frontal lobe. Generally, BA10 is thought to contain two or three subregions that subserve broad functions such as multitasking, social cognition, attention, and episodic memory. However, there is a substantial debate about the functional and structural heterogeneity of this large frontal region. Previous connectivity-based parcellation studies have identified two or three subregions in the human frontal pole. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging to assess structural connectivity of BA10 in 35 healthy subjects and delineated subregions based on this connectivity. This allowed us to determine the correspondence of structurally based subregions with the scheme previously defined functionally. Three subregions could be defined in each subject. However, these three subregions were not spatially consistent between subjects. Therefore, we accepted a solution with two subregions that encompassed the lateral and medial frontal pole. We then examined resting-state functional connectivity of the two subregions and found significant differences between their connectivities. The medial cluster was connected to nodes of the default-mode network, which is implicated in internally focused, self-related thought, and social cognition. The lateral cluster was connected to nodes of the executive control network, associated with directed attention and working memory. These findings support the concept that there are two major anatomical subregions of the frontal pole related to differences in functional connectivity.

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Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/48390
Identification Number/DOI	10.1007/s00429-014-0809-6
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics (CINN) Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience
Additional Information	The full text of this article is freely available via PMC using the link supplied in Related URLs
Publisher	Springer
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