Changes in connectivity profiles define functionally distinct regions in human medial frontal cortex

A fundamental issue in neuroscience is the relation between structure and function. However, gross landmarks do not correspond well to microstructural borders and cytoarchitecture cannot be visualized in a living brain used for functional studies. Here, we used diffusion-weighted and functional MRI to test structure-function relations directly. Distinct neocortical regions were defined as volumes having similar connectivity profiles and borders identified where connectivity changed. Without using prior information, we found an abrupt profile change where the border between supplementary motor area (SMA) and pre-SMA is expected. Consistent with this anatomical assignment, putative SMA and pre-SMA connected to…

• WT
  Wellcome Trust
• RS
  Royal Society
• RS
  Royal Society of Edinburgh
• MR
  Medical Research Council
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council