Multimodal Cortex Maps Reveal New Cognitive Regions

A Translational Psychiatry study used multimodal cortical parcellations combining fMRI, DTI, and structural MRI to identify previously unreported regions of the human cerebral cortex that correlate with measures of cognitive performance.

Researchers published findings in Translational Psychiatry reporting the use of multimodal cortical parcellations to map regions of the human cerebral cortex that relate to cognitive performance. The team combined functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and high-resolution anatomical scans to define cortical parcels with attention to connectivity and activity patterns. The study highlights cortical subdivisions that were not apparent from single-modality analyses. The authors report sharing parcellation maps and analysis pipelines with the research community. Key findings: - The study integrated fMRI, DTI, and structural MRI to generate multimodal cortical parcellations. - Researchers identified novel cortical subdivisions with distinct connectivity and activation profiles. - Several of the newly identified regions were reported as associated with measures of working memory, attention, and executive function. - The authors made parcellation maps and analytical methods available for other researchers. Summary: The results refine maps of cortical organization by linking specific parcels to cognitive measures and underscore the value of integrating multiple imaging modalities. Undetermined at this time.