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White matter connections of the supplementary motor area in humans

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Francesco Vergani, Professor Johannes Attems, Dr Christopher Morris, Patrick Mitchell

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Abstract

Introduction The supplementary motor area (SMA) is frequently involved by brain tumours (particularly WHO grade II gliomas). Surgery in this area can be followed by the 'SMA syndrome', characterised by contralateral akinesia and mutism. Knowledge of the connections of the SMA can provide new insights on the genesis of the SMA syndrome, and a better understanding of the challenges related to operating in this region.Methods White matter connections of the SMA were studied with both postmortem dissection and advance diffusion imaging tractography. Postmortem dissections were performed according to the Klingler technique.12 specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and frozen at -15 degrees C for 2 weeks. After thawing, dissection was performed with blunt dissectors. For diffusion tractography, high-resolution diffusion imaging datasets from 10 adult healthy controls from the Human Connectome Project database were used. Whole brain tractography was performed using a spherical deconvolution approach.Results Five main connections were identified in both postmortem dissections and tractography reconstructions: (1) U-fibres running in the precentral sulcus, connecting the precentral gyrus and the SMA; (2) U-fibres running in the cingulate sulcus, connecting the SMA with the cingulate gyrus; (3) frontal 'aslant' fascicle, directly connecting the SMA with the pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus; (4) medial fibres connecting the SMA with the striatum; and (5) SMA callosal fibres. Good concordance was observed between postmortem dissections and diffusion tractography.Conclusions The SMA shows a wide range of white matter connections with motor, language and lymbic areas. Features of the SMA syndrome (akinesia and mutism) can be better understood on the basis of these findings.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Vergani F, Lacerda L, Martino J, Attems J, Morris C, Mitchell P, de Schotten MT, Dell'Acqua F

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

Year: 2014

Volume: 85

Issue: 12

Pages: 1377-1385

Print publication date: 01/12/2014

Online publication date: 16/04/2014

Acceptance date: 24/03/2014

ISSN (print): 0022-3050

ISSN (electronic): 1468-330X

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2013-307492

DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2013-307492

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