Functionally defined white matter reveals segregated pathways in human ventral temporal cortex associated with category-specific processing.

ABSTRACT: It is unknown if the white-matter properties associated with specific visual networks selectively affect category-specific processing. In a novel protocol we combined measurements of white-matter structure, functional selectivity, and behavior in the same subjects. We find two parallel white-matter pathways along the ventral temporal lobe connecting to either face-selective or place-selective regions. Diffusion properties of portions of these tracts adjacent to face- and place-selective regions of ventral temporal cortex correlate with behavioral performance for face or place processing, respectively. Strikingly, adults with developmental prosopagnosia (face blindness) express an atypical structure-behavior relationship near face-selective cortex, suggesting that white-matter atypicalities

SUBMITTER: Gomez J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4287959 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature