Brief Article
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World J Neurol. Sep 28, 2013; 3(3): 67-74
Published online Sep 28, 2013. doi: 10.5316/wjn.v3.i3.67
Thickness-based correlations of cortical areas involved in senses, speech and cognitive processes
Ioannis Mavridis, Konstantinos Lontos, Sophia Anagnostopoulou
Ioannis Mavridis, Konstantinos Lontos, Sophia Anagnostopoulou, Department of Anatomy, University of Athens School of Medicine, 11527 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Mavridis I and Lontos K performed the experiments and wrote the paper; Mavridis I designed the study; Anagnostopoulou S provided the collection of all the human material.
Correspondence to: Ioannis Mavridis, MD, PhD, Department of Anatomy, University of Athens School of Medicine, Mikras Assias str. 75, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece. pap-van@otenet.gr
Telephone: +30-697-8327199 Fax: +30-210-2833600
Received: January 27, 2013
Revised: May 28, 2013
Accepted: June 18, 2013
Published online: September 28, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To explore the existence of potential correlations of cortical thickness between different functional brain areas.

METHODS: Our material consisted of 38 formalin-fixated human cerebral hemispheres from twenty males and three females, cadaver donors for students’ education. We selected the following cortical areas at each hemisphere to examine: supramarginal gyrus (S), angular gyrus (A), area of colors recognition (F), area of names recognition (N), area of auditory attention (H), area of place memory (M), cortex of the superior wall of the calcarine sulcus (V1) and cortex of the inferior wall of the calcarine sulcus (V2). We measured the thickness of each cortical area and statistically analyzed our data.

RESULTS: We found a significant difference of the mean value of the V1 (P < 0.05) between right and left hemispheres, as well as very significant correlations (P < 0.001) between the following cortical areas: N and F, A and F, S and F, A and S, A and N, S and N. We also found significant correlations (P < 0.01) between the following areas: S and M, S and H, N and H, as well as between the following areas (P < 0.05): V1 and V2, M and F, M and N, A and H.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there could be a potentially stronger impact for objects placed in the left inferior quarter of the visual field. Our study revealed several thickness-based correlations among different functional cortical areas. Most of them seem to have a more or less rational explanation.

Keywords: Anatomy, Cerebral cortex, Correlations, Cortical thickness, Functional areas

Core tip: Our primary purpose was to explore the existence of potential correlations of cortical thickness between different functional areas of the human brain. Our material consisted of 38 formalin-fixated cerebral hemispheres. We examined eight specific cortical areas at each hemisphere. We found several statistically significant correlations. Our results suggest that there could be a potentially stronger impact for objects placed in the left inferior quarter of the visual field. Our study also revealed several thickness-based correlations among different functional cortical areas. Most of them seem to have a more or less rational explanation.