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Abstract #3982

The Impact of White Matter Growth on the Maturation of Information Processing and Reaction Time

Nadia CF Scantlebury1, Conrad Rockel1, William Gaetz2, Nicole Law1, Don Mabbott1

1Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 2Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA


Here we use the latency between a visual cue and a motor response to measure reaction time and test the contributions of white matter on information processing in children. Combined MEG and DTI methods were employed to delineate tracts that are likely involved in the modulation of signal transmission for reaction time. Findings implicate the white matter integrity of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the cortico-spinal tracts as important players in modulating reaction time. Age-related changes in white matter organization of these tracts are likely involved in increasing the efficiency of signal transmission and information processing.