Interhemispheric transfer time and structural properties of the corpus callosum

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2006.09.028

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 409, Issue 2, 1 December 2006, Pages 140-145

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2006.09.028 Get rights and content

Abstract

The present study examined how interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) is affected by interindividual differences in corpus callosum (CC) architecture. For this purpose the CC of 42 healthy male subjects was assessed by applying a combination of morphological and diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging to characterize the CC on macro- (midsagittal area) and microstructural level (mean diffusion, fractional anisotropy). Following the so-called Poffenberger paradigm, IHTT was determined with both reaction time measures and event-related potentials recorded in response to stimuli briefly presented to either left or right visual hemifield. Statistical analysis revealed significant negative correlations between mean diffusion and IHTT estimates derived from the P100 component (at O1/O2 electrode pair), particularly in the posterior CC subregion. Interpreting mean diffusion as an index of microstructural tissue properties, IHTT appears to be directly related to the structural integrity of the posterior CC.

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to M.C. Henke for her assistance in data analysis. The present study was supported by grants from the Foundation for Neuro- and Psychobiological Research to the Center for Neuropsychological Research.

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The corpus callosum (CC) has been identified as an important structure in the context of cognitive aging (Fling et al., 2011). Interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) is regularly used in order to estimate interhemispheric integration enabled by the CC (Marzi, 2010; Nowicka and Tacikowski, 2011). However, only little is known with regards to the relationship between IHTT and the structural properties of the CC with only few studies with specific samples and methods available (Whitford et al., 2011). Thus, the present study aimed at investigating this relationship applying an event-related potentials (ERP) based approach of estimating IHTT as well as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with fractional anisotropy (FA) as an indicator of white matter integrity (WMI) of the genu, corpus and splenium of the CC. 56 healthy older adults performed a Dimond Task while ERPs were recorded and underwent DWI scanning. IHTT derived from posterior electrode sites correlated significantly with FA of the splenium (r = −0.286*, p = .03) but not the corpus (r = −0.187, p = .08) or genu (r = −0.189, p = .18). The present results support the notion that IHTT is related to WMI of the posterior CC. It may be concluded that ERP based IHTT is a suitable indicator of CC structure and function, however, likely specific to the interhemispheric transfer of visual information. Future studies may wish to confirm these findings in a more divers sample further exploring the precise interrelation between IHTT and structural or functional properties of the CC.
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Functional hemispheric asymmetries emerge as the left and the right hemisphere are dominant for different aspects of task processing. However, the hemispheres do not work independent of each other but share information through the corpus callosum. The integration of information across the corpus callosum is dependent on its structural integrity and functionality. Several hormones, like estradiol and progesterone, can influence this function. Since earlier work has demonstrated that long-term changes in stress hormone levels are accompanied by changes in hemispheric asymmetries in several mental disorders, the aim of the current study was to investigate whether acute stress and the associated changes in stress hormone levels also affect information transfer across the corpus callosum. For this purpose, we collected EEG data from 51 participants while completing a lexical decision task and a Poffenberger paradigm twice, once after stress induction with the Trier Social Stress Test and once after a control-condition. While there were no differences in interhemispheric transfer between the stress and the non-stress condition in the Poffenberger paradigm, we observed shorter latencies to stimuli in the left visual field in the left hemisphere at the CP3-CP4 electrode pair after stress. These results suggest that the transfer of lexical material from the right to the left hemisphere was quicker under stress. Stress may increase callosal excitability and lead to more efficient signal transfer across the corpus callosum between language related areas. Future studies using pharmacological intervention are needed to further examine cooperation of the hemispheres under stress in more detail.
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Age-related cognitive decline has been attributed to degeneration of the corpus callosum (CC), which allows for interhemispheric integration and information processing [22,69]. Along with decreased structural integrity, altered functional properties of the CC may cause impaired cognitive performance in older adults, yet this aspect of age-related decline remains insufficiently researched [59]. In this context, potential sex-related differences have been proposed [31,58]. A promising parameter, which has been suggested to estimate functional properties of the CC is the interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT), which is ideally obtained from event-related potentials (ERP) evoked by lateralized stimuli [45]. To examine the possible functional consequences of aging with regards to the CC, the present study investigated the IHTT of 107 older (67.69 ± 5.18y) as well as of 23 younger participants (25.09 ± 2.59y). IHTT was obtained using an established letter matching task and targeting early N170 ERP components at posterior electrode sites. The results revealed significantly elongated IHTT in older compared to younger participants, but no significant sex differences. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between IHTT and age, predominantly driven by the female participants. The present findings add support to the notion, that IHTT is subject to age-related elongation reflecting impaired interhemispheric transmission. Age-related decline in women appears to occur at a different age range compared to men.
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Interhemispheric transfer time and structural properties of the corpus callosum

Abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

Neuropsychologia

NeuroImage

Neuropsychologia

Eur. J. Radiol.

Neuropsychologia

Neuropsychologia

The basis of anisotropic water diffusion in the nervous system—a technical review

NMR Biomed.

Estimation of interhemispheric dynamics from simple unimanual reaction time to extrafoveal stimuli

Neuropsychol. Rev.

Simple reaction times to lateralized light flashes. Varieties of interhemispheric communication routes

Brain

Sources of attention-sensitive visual event-related potentials

Brain Topogr.

Measuring interhemispheric transfer time in man

Trans. Am. Neurol. Assoc.