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MastersThesis_Hansen.pdf (2.61 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Developmental changes in connectivity between the amygdala subnuclei and occipitotemporal cortex
Author Info
Hansen, Heather Ann
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556631333522481
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2019, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Abstract
The amygdala, a subcortical structure known for social and emotional processing, can be subdivided into multiple nuclei with unique functions and connectivity patterns. Tracer studies in adult macaques have shown that the lateral and basal amygdala subnuclei decrease in connectivity to visual cortical areas moving from anterior to posterior, and that infants have similar adult-like projections plus additional connections that are refined with development. Can we delineate the connectivity between the amygdala subnuclei and occipitotemporal cortex in humans, and will it show similar developmental differences as macaques? If so, what functional regions may be contributing to this pattern of connectivity? To address these questions, we anatomically defined the lateral and basal amygdala subnuclei in 20 adult subjects, 27 kids (aged 7-8), and 15 neonates. We then defined the occipitotemporal region in each individual’s native anatomy, and split this entire region into five equal sections from anterior to posterior. We also defined visual functional parcellations in the occipitotemporal cortex (e.g., FFA, PPA) and anatomically defined primary visual cortex (i.e., V1). Using Diffusion Weighted Imaging data, we ran probabilistic tractography with FSL between the amygdala subnuclei as seeds and the occipitotemporal cortical parcellations as targets. Results showed that like macaques, the mean connectivity across subjects to the occipitotemporal cortex significantly decreased on a gradient from anterior to posterior, and that connectivity in kids and neonates was adult-like but became more refined across development. Further, refinement of connectivity to mid and posterior occipitotemporal cortex was largely driven by anterior PPA, LO, and V1, with connectivity to higher order visual areas increasing with age. The functional maturation of these regions may contribute to the continued refinement of these connections, in line with Interactive Specialization hypotheses of brain development.
Committee
Zeynep Saygin, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Andrew Leber, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Dylan Wagner, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Pages
50 p.
Subject Headings
Psychology
Keywords
amygdala
;
subnuclei
;
occipitotemporal cortex
;
structural connectivity
;
DWI
;
tractography
;
development
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Citations
Hansen, H. A. (2019).
Developmental changes in connectivity between the amygdala subnuclei and occipitotemporal cortex
[Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556631333522481
APA Style (7th edition)
Hansen, Heather.
Developmental changes in connectivity between the amygdala subnuclei and occipitotemporal cortex.
2019. Ohio State University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556631333522481.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Hansen, Heather. "Developmental changes in connectivity between the amygdala subnuclei and occipitotemporal cortex." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1556631333522481
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
osu1556631333522481
Download Count:
236
Copyright Info
© 2019, some rights reserved.
Developmental changes in connectivity between the amygdala subnuclei and occipitotemporal cortex by Heather Ann Hansen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.