The Role of the Corpus Callosum in Interhemispheric Transfer of Information: Excitation or Inhibition?

AbstractThe application of neuroscience advances to brain injury is addressed in the context of our studies of the role of the corpus callosum in the interhemispheric transfer of auditory and tactile information. The outcome of these studies, which were conducted over a period of 30 years in normal individuals as well as those with congenital and acquired lesions of the corpus callosum, have since been confirmed and extended by modern brain imaging techniques. These techniques nevertheless continue to rely on the use of sensitive, specific, valid and reliable behavioural testing paradigms.

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Alexithymia and Somatization in Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience ◽

10.1093/scan/nsab056 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lynn K Paul ◽

Shawneen R Pazienza ◽

Warren S Brown

Keyword(s):

Corpus Callosum ◽

Emotional Experience ◽

Emotion Processing ◽

Critical Role ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Interhemispheric Transfer ◽

Cerebral Hemispheres ◽

Emotional Coping ◽

Cognitive Dimensions

Abstract Deficient communication between the cerebral hemispheres is one of several prevailing neurobiological explanations for alexithymia and has been strongly supported by research on patients with commissurotomy. We examined self-reported symptoms of alexithymia in adults with agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC), a condition characterized by more subtle reductions in interhemispheric transfer than in commissurotomy. 16 adults with AgCC and FSIQ > 80 were compared with 15 age- and IQ-matched neurotypical controls. The AgCC group endorsed greater difficulty identifying and describing feelings and more vague physical symptoms than controls, but similar levels of emotional experience and emotional coping. This finding of impaired emotional interpretation with intact emotional experience is consistent with findings in callosotomy patients, implicating the critical role of the corpus callosum in cognitive dimensions of emotion processing. Further study of alexithymia in AgCC using task-based measures may help clarify the nature of this relationship.

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Volume reduction of the corpus callosum and its relationship with deficits in interhemispheric transfer of information in recent-onset psychosis

Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging ◽

10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.06.003 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 184 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Tiffany M. Chaim ◽

Maristela S. Schaufelberger ◽

Luiz K. Ferreira ◽

Fábio L.S. Duran ◽

Adriana M. Ayres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Corpus Callosum ◽

Interhemispheric Transfer ◽

Volume Reduction ◽

Recent Onset ◽

Transfer Of Information

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Corpus Callosum Volume and Interhemispheric Transfer in Multiple Sclerosis

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100010787 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (5) ◽

pp. 615-619 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

L. N. Brown ◽

Y. Zhang ◽

J. R. Mitchell ◽

R. Zabad ◽

L. M. Metz

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Corpus Callosum ◽

Interhemispheric Transfer ◽

Mr Images ◽

Scientific Exploration ◽

Treatment Benefits ◽

Tactile Stimuli ◽

Transfer Of Information ◽

3T Mr

Background:The corpus callosum (CC) is frequently compromised in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Structural and functional measurements of the CC may be useful to monitor the progression of the disease. The aim of this pilot study was to determine if bimanual tactile temporal thresholds correlates with CC volume. A tactile temporal threshold is the longest temporal interval that separates the onsets of two tactile stimuli when they are judged by the observer as simultaneous. Judgments to bimanual stimulations require interhemispheric transfer via the CC.Methods:Thresholds were examined in MS patients and matched controls. Magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired on a 3T MR system within 48 hours of clinical assessment and measurement of thresholds.Results:Corpus callosum volume was assessed by using a semiautomatic livewire algorithm. The CC volume was smaller (by 21% on average, p < 0.01) and thresholds were higher (by 49% on average, p < 0.03) in MS patients when compared to controls. A significant correlation (r = -0.66, p = 0.01) between CC volume and thresholds emerged for the MS patients.Conclusion:Measuring treatment benefits of neuroprotective and repair therapies is a well recognized challenge in MS research. The overall findings of this study suggest that these measurements, which involve the transfer of information interhemispherically via the CC, may be promising outcome measures that warrant further scientific exploration to develop a model to measure recovery.

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Music Playing and Interhemispheric Communication: Older Professional Musicians Outperform Age-Matched Non-Musicians in Fingertip Cross-Localization Test

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617720000946 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Massimo Piccirilli ◽

Maria Teresa Palermo ◽

Alessandro Germani ◽

Maria Laura Bertoli ◽

Viola Ancarani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Corpus Callosum ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Musical Training ◽

Interhemispheric Transfer ◽

Aging Brain ◽

Professional Musicians ◽

Interhemispheric Communication ◽

Age Related ◽

Localization Test ◽

Transfer Of Information

Abstract Objective: Numerous investigations have documented that age-related changes in the integrity of the corpus callosum are associated with age-related decline in the interhemispheric transfer of information. Conversely, there is accumulating evidence for more efficient white matter organization of the corpus callosum in individuals with extensive musical training. However, the relationship between making music and accuracy in interhemispheric transfer remains poorly explored. Methods: To test the hypothesis that musicians show enhanced functional connectivity between the two hemispheres, 65 professional musicians (aged 56–90 years) and 65 age- and sex-matched non-musicians performed the fingertip cross-localization test. In this task, subjects must respond to a tactile stimulus presented to one hand using the ipsilateral (intra-hemispheric test) or contralateral (inter-hemispheric test) hand. Because the transfer of information from one hemisphere to another may imply a loss of accuracy, the value of the difference between the intrahemispheric and interhemispheric tests can be utilized as a reliable measure of the effectiveness of hemispheric interactions. Results: Older professional musicians show significantly greater accuracy in tactile interhemispheric transfer than non-musicians who suffer from age-related decline. Conclusions: Musicians have more efficient interhemispheric communication than age-matched non-musicians. This finding is in keeping with studies showing that individuals with extensive musical training have a larger corpus callosum. The results are discussed in relation to relevant data suggesting that music positively influences aging brain plasticity.

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Problems with Interhemispheric Transfer of Information in Complete or Partial Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair ◽

10.1177/154596830101500307 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 197-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R.N. Joseph ◽

C.M. Bannister

Keyword(s):

Corpus Callosum ◽

Interhemispheric Transfer ◽

Interhemispheric Communication ◽

Comparison Results ◽

Transfer Of Information

Objective: We assessed the presence of poor interhemispheric communication in agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) and hydrocephalus. Methods: With spe cially designed tests, nine children with ACC were investigated and compared with 11 controls to see the degree of impairment present. Two subjects with a stretched cor pus callosum due to hydrocephalus also were tested. A subject with the corpus callo sum divided was tested for comparison. Results: Significant differences were found in tests of coordination and stereognosis both with ACC patients and the calloso tomy subject. No impairments were found in the hydrocephalics. Conclusions: When compared with controls, ACC patients perform poorly in several tests. The calloso tomy patient also showed evidence of impairment similar to that of the ACC patients.

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Interhemispheric transfer evaluation in multiple sclerosis 1The authors would like to thank Claude-Alain Hauert and Christoph Michel for their assistance in the evaluation of motor tapping and Michel Habib for his suggestions and comments. This work was supported by a grant from the Swiss Society of Multiple Sclerosis.

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024//1421-0185.59.3.150 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 150-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nadia Ortiz ◽

Michael Reicherts ◽

Alan J. Pegna ◽

Encarni Garran ◽

Michel Chofflon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Corpus Callosum ◽

Lexical Decision ◽

Dichotic Listening ◽

Neurological Impairment ◽

Interhemispheric Transfer ◽

Decision Task ◽

Swiss Society ◽

Listening Test ◽

Relapsing Remitting

Patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have frequently been found to suffer from damage to callosal fibers. Investigations have shown that this damage is associated with signs of hemisphere disconnections. The aim of our study was to provide evidence for the first signs of interhemispheric dysfunction in a mildly disabled MS population. Therefore, we explored whether the Interhemispheric Transfer (IT) deficit is multi-modal and sought to differentiate two MS evolution forms, on the basis of an interhemispheric disconnection index. Twenty-two patients with relapsing-remitting form of MS (RRMS) and 14 chronic-progressive (CPMS) were compared with matched controls on four tasks: a tachistoscopic verbal and non-verbal decision task, a dichotic listening test, cross tactile finger localization and motor tapping. No overall impairment was seen. The dichotic listening and lexical decision tasks were the most sensitive to MS. In addition, CPMS patients' IT was more impaired and was related to the severity of neurological impairment. The different sizes of the callosal fibers, which determine their vulnerability, may explain the heterogeneity of transfer through the Corpus Callosum. Therefore, evaluation of IT may be of value as an index of evolution in MS.

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The role of activity in corpus callosum development in the visual cortex

9th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks: ICANN '99 ◽

10.1049/cp:19991144 ◽

1999 ◽

Author(s):

T. Hely

Keyword(s):

Visual Cortex ◽

Corpus Callosum

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Effect of corpus callosum agenesis on the language network in children and adolescents

Brain Structure and Function ◽

10.1007/s00429-020-02203-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa Bartha-Doering ◽

Ernst Schwartz ◽

Kathrin Kollndorfer ◽

Florian Ph. S. Fischmeister ◽

Astrid Novak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Corpus Callosum ◽

Network Connectivity ◽

Functional Language ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Language Abilities ◽

Verbal Abilities ◽

Left And Right ◽

Language Network

AbstractThe present study is interested in the role of the corpus callosum in the development of the language network. We, therefore, investigated language abilities and the language network using task-based fMRI in three cases of complete agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), three cases of partial ACC and six controls. Although the children with complete ACC revealed impaired functions in specific language domains, no child with partial ACC showed a test score below average. As a group, ACC children performed significantly worse than healthy controls in verbal fluency and naming. Furthermore, whole-brain ROI-to-ROI connectivity analyses revealed reduced intrahemispheric and right intrahemispheric functional connectivity in ACC patients as compared to controls. In addition, stronger functional connectivity between left and right temporal areas was associated with better language abilities in the ACC group. In healthy controls, no association between language abilities and connectivity was found. Our results show that ACC is associated not only with less interhemispheric, but also with less right intrahemispheric language network connectivity in line with reduced verbal abilities. The present study, thus, supports the excitatory role of the corpus callosum in functional language network connectivity and language abilities.

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