Mathematical expertise modulates the architecture of dorsal and cortico-thalamic white matter tracts.

ABSTRACT: To what extent are levels of cognitive expertise reflected in differential structural connectivity of the brain? We addressed this question by analyzing the white matter brain structure of experts (mathematicians) versus non-experts (non-mathematicians) using probabilistic tractography. Having mathematicians and non-mathematicians as participant groups enabled us to directly compare profiles of structural connectivity arising from individual levels of expertise in mathematics. Tracking from functional seed regions activated during the processing of complex arithmetic formulas revealed an involvement of various fiber bundles such the inferior fronto-occipital fascicle, arcuate fasciculus/superior longitudinal fasciculus (AF/SLF), cross-hemispheric connections of frontal lobe areas through t

SUBMITTER: Jeon HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6497695 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature