Y-C. Shih1, H-H. Liou2, K-C. Chu3,
P-Y. Chen4, W-M. Huang5, F-H. Lin1, W-Y. I.
Tseng6,7
1Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; 2Department
of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 3Graduate
Institute of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei,
Taiwan; 4Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University
Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 5Graduate Institute of Pharmacology,
National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; 6Center
for Optoelectronic Biomedicine, National Taiwan University College of
Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; 7Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital,
Taipei, Taiwan
In this study we investigated three association fibers including superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, cingulum bundles (CG) and uncinate fasciculus using diffusion spectrum imaging, and characterized the alteration in these association fibers in seven patients with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) compared to controls. The patients showed increased structural connectivity in all association fibers except the inferior portion of the left CG. Furthermore, the CG changed its asymmetry from leftward to rightward. Our results suggest that the integrity of left CG ipsilateral to mTLE is affected directly. The increased structural connectivity in other tracts implies a mechanism of white matter plasticity.