The impact of occipital lobe cortical thickness on cognitive task performance: An investigation in Huntington's Disease

Eileanoir B Johnson; Elin M Rees; Izelle Labuschagne; Alexandra Durr; Blair R Leavitt; Raymund A C Roos; Ralf Reilmann; Hans J Johnson; Nicola Z Hobbs; Douglas R Langbehn; Julie C Stout; Sarah J Tabrizi; Rachael I Scahill; Eric Axelson; Natalie Bechtel; Simon J A van den Bogaard; Stefan Bohlen; Jennifer Callaghan; James Colin Campbell; Melissa Sue Anne Campbell; David Cash; Allison Coleman; David O Craufurd; Rachelle C Dar Santos; Joji Decolongon; Eve Marie Dumas; Nick C Fox; Chris Frost; Jeroen van der Grond; Ellen 't Hart; Stephen L Hicks; Celine Jauffret; Rebecca D Jones; Damian Justo; Christopher Kennard; Nayana Lahiri; Bernhard G Landwehrmeyer; Stephane Lehericy; Ian Malone; Cecilia Marelli; Cassie Milchman; Kevin Nigaud; Gail N Owen; Sarah Queller; Tracey Pepple; Joy Read; Miranda J Say; Aaron Sturrock; Romain Valabregue; Chiachi Wang

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033

The impact of occipital lobe cortical thickness on cognitive task performance: An investigation in Huntington's Disease

Eileanoir B Johnson, Elin M Rees, Izelle Labuschagne, Alexandra Durr, Blair R Leavitt, Raymund A C Roos, Ralf Reilmann, Hans J Johnson, Nicola Z Hobbs, Douglas R Langbehn, Julie C Stout, Sarah J Tabrizi, Rachael I Scahill, Eric Axelson, Natalie Bechtel, Simon J A van den Bogaard, Stefan Bohlen, Jennifer Callaghan, James Colin Campbell, Melissa Sue Anne CampbellDavid Cash, Allison Coleman, David O Craufurd, Rachelle C Dar Santos, Joji Decolongon, Eve Marie Dumas, Nick C Fox, Chris Frost, Jeroen van der Grond, Ellen 't Hart, Stephen L Hicks, Celine Jauffret, Rebecca D Jones, Damian Justo, Christopher Kennard, Nayana Lahiri, Bernhard G Landwehrmeyer, Stephane Lehericy, Ian Malone, Cecilia Marelli, Cassie Milchman, Kevin Nigaud, Gail N Owen, Sarah Queller, Tracey Pepple, Joy Read, Miranda J Say, Aaron Sturrock, Romain Valabregue, Chiachi Wang

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The occipital lobe is an important visual processing region of the brain. Following consistent findings of early neural changes in the occipital lobe in Huntington s Disease (HD), we examined cortical thickness across four occipital regions in premanifest (preHD) and early HD groups compared with controls. Associations between cortical thickness in gene positive individuals and performance on six cognitive tasks, each with a visual component, were examined. In addition, the association between cortical thickness in gene positive participants and one non-visual motor task was also examined for comparison. Methods: Cortical thickness was determined using FreeSurfer on T1-weighted 3T MR datasets from controls (N=97), preHD (N=109) and HD (N=69) from the TRACK-HD study. Regression models were fitted to assess between-group differences in cortical thickness, and relationships between performance on the cognitive tasks, the motor task and occipital thickness were examined in a subset of gene-positive participants (N=141). Results: Thickness of the occipital cortex in preHD and early HD participants was reduced compared with controls. Regionally-specific associations between reduced cortical thickness and poorer performance were found for five of the six cognitive tasks, with the strongest associations in lateral occipital and lingual regions. No associations were found with the cuneus. The non-visual motor task was not associated with thickness of any region. Conclusions: The heterogeneous pattern of associations found in the present study suggests that occipital thickness negatively impacts cognition, but only in regions that are linked to relatively advanced visual processing (e.g., lateral occipital, lingual regions), rather than in basic visual processing regions such as the cuneus. Our results show, for the first time, the functional implications of occipital atrophy highlighted in recent studies in HD

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	138 - 146
Number of pages	9
Journal	Neuropsychologia
Volume	79
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033
Publication status	Published - 2015

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10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033

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Johnson, E. B., Rees, E. M., Labuschagne, I., Durr, A., Leavitt, B. R., Roos, R. A. C., Reilmann, R., Johnson, H. J., Hobbs, N. Z., Langbehn, D. R., Stout, J. C., Tabrizi, S. J., Scahill, R. I., Axelson, E., Bechtel, N., van den Bogaard, S. J. A., Bohlen, S., Callaghan, J., Campbell, J. C., ... Wang, C. (2015). The impact of occipital lobe cortical thickness on cognitive task performance: An investigation in Huntington's Disease. Neuropsychologia, 79, 138 - 146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033

@article{1608d6e3c17d4f44a7245f6ff198a8ed,

title = "The impact of occipital lobe cortical thickness on cognitive task performance: An investigation in Huntington's Disease",

abstract = "Background: The occipital lobe is an important visual processing region of the brain. Following consistent findings of early neural changes in the occipital lobe in Huntington s Disease (HD), we examined cortical thickness across four occipital regions in premanifest (preHD) and early HD groups compared with controls. Associations between cortical thickness in gene positive individuals and performance on six cognitive tasks, each with a visual component, were examined. In addition, the association between cortical thickness in gene positive participants and one non-visual motor task was also examined for comparison. Methods: Cortical thickness was determined using FreeSurfer on T1-weighted 3T MR datasets from controls (N=97), preHD (N=109) and HD (N=69) from the TRACK-HD study. Regression models were fitted to assess between-group differences in cortical thickness, and relationships between performance on the cognitive tasks, the motor task and occipital thickness were examined in a subset of gene-positive participants (N=141). Results: Thickness of the occipital cortex in preHD and early HD participants was reduced compared with controls. Regionally-specific associations between reduced cortical thickness and poorer performance were found for five of the six cognitive tasks, with the strongest associations in lateral occipital and lingual regions. No associations were found with the cuneus. The non-visual motor task was not associated with thickness of any region. Conclusions: The heterogeneous pattern of associations found in the present study suggests that occipital thickness negatively impacts cognition, but only in regions that are linked to relatively advanced visual processing (e.g., lateral occipital, lingual regions), rather than in basic visual processing regions such as the cuneus. Our results show, for the first time, the functional implications of occipital atrophy highlighted in recent studies in HD",

author = "Johnson, {Eileanoir B} and Rees, {Elin M} and Izelle Labuschagne and Alexandra Durr and Leavitt, {Blair R} and Roos, {Raymund A C} and Ralf Reilmann and Johnson, {Hans J} and Hobbs, {Nicola Z} and Langbehn, {Douglas R} and Stout, {Julie C} and Tabrizi, {Sarah J} and Scahill, {Rachael I} and Eric Axelson and Natalie Bechtel and {van den Bogaard}, {Simon J A} and Stefan Bohlen and Jennifer Callaghan and Campbell, {James Colin} and Campbell, {Melissa Sue Anne} and David Cash and Allison Coleman and Craufurd, {David O} and {Dar Santos}, {Rachelle C} and Joji Decolongon and Dumas, {Eve Marie} and Fox, {Nick C} and Chris Frost and {van der Grond}, Jeroen and {'t Hart}, Ellen and Hicks, {Stephen L} and Celine Jauffret and Jones, {Rebecca D} and Damian Justo and Christopher Kennard and Nayana Lahiri and Landwehrmeyer, {Bernhard G} and Stephane Lehericy and Ian Malone and Cecilia Marelli and Cassie Milchman and Kevin Nigaud and Owen, {Gail N} and Sarah Queller and Tracey Pepple and Joy Read and Say, {Miranda J} and Aaron Sturrock and Romain Valabregue and Chiachi Wang",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033",

language = "English",

volume = "79",

pages = "138 -- 146",

journal = "Neuropsychologia",

issn = "0028-3932",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Johnson, EB, Rees, EM, Labuschagne, I, Durr, A, Leavitt, BR, Roos, RAC, Reilmann, R, Johnson, HJ, Hobbs, NZ, Langbehn, DR, Stout, JC, Tabrizi, SJ, Scahill, RI, Axelson, E, Bechtel, N, van den Bogaard, SJA, Bohlen, S, Callaghan, J, Campbell, JC, Campbell, MSA, Cash, D, Coleman, A, Craufurd, DO, Dar Santos, RC, Decolongon, J, Dumas, EM, Fox, NC, Frost, C, van der Grond, J, 't Hart, E, Hicks, SL, Jauffret, C, Jones, RD, Justo, D, Kennard, C, Lahiri, N, Landwehrmeyer, BG, Lehericy, S, Malone, I, Marelli, C, Milchman, C, Nigaud, K, Owen, GN, Queller, S, Pepple, T, Read, J, Say, MJ, Sturrock, A, Valabregue, R & Wang, C 2015, 'The impact of occipital lobe cortical thickness on cognitive task performance: An investigation in Huntington's Disease', Neuropsychologia, vol. 79, pp. 138 - 146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033

TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of occipital lobe cortical thickness on cognitive task performance: An investigation in Huntington's Disease

AU - Johnson, Eileanoir B

AU - Rees, Elin M

AU - Labuschagne, Izelle

AU - Durr, Alexandra

AU - Leavitt, Blair R

AU - Roos, Raymund A C

AU - Reilmann, Ralf

AU - Johnson, Hans J

AU - Hobbs, Nicola Z

AU - Langbehn, Douglas R

AU - Stout, Julie C

AU - Tabrizi, Sarah J

AU - Scahill, Rachael I

AU - Axelson, Eric

AU - Bechtel, Natalie

AU - van den Bogaard, Simon J A

AU - Bohlen, Stefan

AU - Callaghan, Jennifer

AU - Campbell, James Colin

AU - Campbell, Melissa Sue Anne

AU - Cash, David

AU - Coleman, Allison

AU - Craufurd, David O

AU - Dar Santos, Rachelle C

AU - Decolongon, Joji

AU - Dumas, Eve Marie

AU - Fox, Nick C

AU - Frost, Chris

AU - van der Grond, Jeroen

AU - 't Hart, Ellen

AU - Hicks, Stephen L

AU - Jauffret, Celine

AU - Jones, Rebecca D

AU - Justo, Damian

AU - Kennard, Christopher

AU - Lahiri, Nayana

AU - Landwehrmeyer, Bernhard G

AU - Lehericy, Stephane

AU - Malone, Ian

AU - Marelli, Cecilia

AU - Milchman, Cassie

AU - Nigaud, Kevin

AU - Owen, Gail N

AU - Queller, Sarah

AU - Pepple, Tracey

AU - Read, Joy

AU - Say, Miranda J

AU - Sturrock, Aaron

AU - Valabregue, Romain

AU - Wang, Chiachi

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Background: The occipital lobe is an important visual processing region of the brain. Following consistent findings of early neural changes in the occipital lobe in Huntington s Disease (HD), we examined cortical thickness across four occipital regions in premanifest (preHD) and early HD groups compared with controls. Associations between cortical thickness in gene positive individuals and performance on six cognitive tasks, each with a visual component, were examined. In addition, the association between cortical thickness in gene positive participants and one non-visual motor task was also examined for comparison. Methods: Cortical thickness was determined using FreeSurfer on T1-weighted 3T MR datasets from controls (N=97), preHD (N=109) and HD (N=69) from the TRACK-HD study. Regression models were fitted to assess between-group differences in cortical thickness, and relationships between performance on the cognitive tasks, the motor task and occipital thickness were examined in a subset of gene-positive participants (N=141). Results: Thickness of the occipital cortex in preHD and early HD participants was reduced compared with controls. Regionally-specific associations between reduced cortical thickness and poorer performance were found for five of the six cognitive tasks, with the strongest associations in lateral occipital and lingual regions. No associations were found with the cuneus. The non-visual motor task was not associated with thickness of any region. Conclusions: The heterogeneous pattern of associations found in the present study suggests that occipital thickness negatively impacts cognition, but only in regions that are linked to relatively advanced visual processing (e.g., lateral occipital, lingual regions), rather than in basic visual processing regions such as the cuneus. Our results show, for the first time, the functional implications of occipital atrophy highlighted in recent studies in HD

AB - Background: The occipital lobe is an important visual processing region of the brain. Following consistent findings of early neural changes in the occipital lobe in Huntington s Disease (HD), we examined cortical thickness across four occipital regions in premanifest (preHD) and early HD groups compared with controls. Associations between cortical thickness in gene positive individuals and performance on six cognitive tasks, each with a visual component, were examined. In addition, the association between cortical thickness in gene positive participants and one non-visual motor task was also examined for comparison. Methods: Cortical thickness was determined using FreeSurfer on T1-weighted 3T MR datasets from controls (N=97), preHD (N=109) and HD (N=69) from the TRACK-HD study. Regression models were fitted to assess between-group differences in cortical thickness, and relationships between performance on the cognitive tasks, the motor task and occipital thickness were examined in a subset of gene-positive participants (N=141). Results: Thickness of the occipital cortex in preHD and early HD participants was reduced compared with controls. Regionally-specific associations between reduced cortical thickness and poorer performance were found for five of the six cognitive tasks, with the strongest associations in lateral occipital and lingual regions. No associations were found with the cuneus. The non-visual motor task was not associated with thickness of any region. Conclusions: The heterogeneous pattern of associations found in the present study suggests that occipital thickness negatively impacts cognition, but only in regions that are linked to relatively advanced visual processing (e.g., lateral occipital, lingual regions), rather than in basic visual processing regions such as the cuneus. Our results show, for the first time, the functional implications of occipital atrophy highlighted in recent studies in HD

UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0028393215302098

U2 - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033

DO - 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.10.033

M3 - Article

SN - 0028-3932

VL - 79

SP - 138

EP - 146

JO - Neuropsychologia

JF - Neuropsychologia

ER -

The impact of occipital lobe cortical thickness on cognitive task performance: An investigation in Huntington's Disease

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