Segmentation of the Cingulum Bundle in the Human Brain: A New Perspective Based on DSI Tractography and Fiber Dissection Study

• Published in: Frontiers in neuroanatomy Vol. 10; p. 84
• Main Authors: Wu, Yupeng, Sun, Dandan, Wang, Yong, Wang, Yibao, Ou, Shaowu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 07.09.2016; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Brain; Cingulum; cingulum bundle; Cognitive ability; Corpus callosum; Cortex (parietal); Decision making; Diffusion spectrum imaging; Dissection; Fiber dissection; Frontal gyrus; Frontal lobe; Hippocampus; klingler’s technique; Neuroscience; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Parietal lobe; Segmentation; Studies; Substantia alba; Superior parietal lobule; Temporal lobe; white matter; China; white matter; cingulum bundle; diffusion spectrum imaging; Klingler’s technique; fiber dissection
• ISSN: 1662-5129; 1662-5129
• DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2016.00084

The cingulum bundle (CB) is a critical white matter fiber tract in the brain, which forms connections between the frontal lobe, parietal lobe and temporal lobe. In non-human primates, the CB is actually divided into distinct subcomponents on the basis of corticocortical connections. However, at present, no study has verified similar distinct subdivisions in the human brain. In this study, we reconstructed these distinct subdivisions in the human brain, and determined their exact cortical connections using high definition fiber tracking (HDFT) technique on 10 healthy adults and a 488-subject template from the Human Connectome Project (HCP-488). Fiber dissections were performed to verify tractography results. Five CB segments were identified. CB-I ran from the subrostral areas to the precuneus and splenium, encircling the corpus callosum (CC). CB-II arched around the splenium and extended anteriorly above the CC to the medial aspect of the superior frontal gyrus (SFG). CB-III connected the superior parietal lobule (SPL) and precuneus with the medial aspect of the SFG. CB-IV was a relatively minor subcomponent from the SPL and precuneus to the frontal region. CB-V, the para-hippocampal cingulum, stemmed from the medial temporal lobe and fanned out to the occipital lobes. Our findings not only provide a more accurate and detailed description on the associated architecture of the subcomponents within the CB, but also offer new insights into the functional role of the CB in the human brain.