Abstract
Cortico-subcortical circuits are organized into the sensorimotor, associative, and limbic loop. These neuronal preconditions play an important role regarding the understanding and treatment of behavioral problems in children. Differencing evidence argues for a lateralized organization of the sensorimotor loop and a bilateral (i.e., non-lateralized) organization of the associative loop. However, a firm behavioral-neurobiological distinction of these circuits has been difficult, specifically in children. Thus, the aim was a comprehensive functional visualization and differentiation of the sensorimotor and the associative circuit during childhood. As a new approach, laterality and rostrality features were used to distinguish between the two circuits within one single motor task. Twenty-four healthy boys performed self-paced index finger tapping with each hand separately during functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla. A contrast analysis for left against right hand movement revealed lateralized activation in typical sensorimotor regions such as primary sensorimotor cortex, caudal supplementary motor area (SMA), caudal putamen, and thalamus. A conjunction analysis confirmed bilateral involvement of known associative regions including pre-SMA, rostral SMA, and rostral putamen. A functional visualization of two distinct corticostriatal circuits is provided in childhood. Both the sensorimotor and associative circuit may be discriminated by their laterality characteristics already in minors. Additionally, the results support the concept of a modified functional subdivision of the SMA in a rostral (associative) and caudal (motor) part. A further development of this approach might help to nurture behavioral assessment and neurofeedback training in child mental health.
Highlights
Connections between cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus are organized in circuits
Our analyses revealed two different patterns of brain activity during unimanual index finger tapping, one indicating movement side-specific involvement of brain areas, and the other one indicating common involvement in left as well as right unimanual movement
A clear pattern was observed consisting of activation in the contralateral and 3)
Summary
A model first hypothesized by Alexander et al (1986) proposes the existence of parallel cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loops Within these loops, specific portions of the involved brain structures are thought to be interconnected in an anatomically and functionally segregated manner, divided according to a tripartite model: sensorimotor, associative, and limbic portions convey information between corresponding cortical and subcortical areas (Selemon and Goldman-Rakic, 1985; Alexander and Crutcher, 1990; Parent, 1990; Parent and Hazrati, 1995; Nakano et al, 2000; Postuma and Dagher, 2006; Di Martino et al, 2008). A firm behavioral–neurobiological distinction of these circuits has been difficult, in children
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