Elsevier

NeuroImage

Volume 22, Issue 2, June 2004, Pages 706-719
NeuroImage

Sulcal pattern and morphology of the superior temporal sulcus

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.01.023Get rights and content

Abstract

The superior temporal sulcus (STs) is the main sulcal landmark of the external temporal cortex and is very important for functional (posterior language areas on the left) mapping and surgery.

The methodology we use is based on the extraction of the 3D shape of sulci and their separation into subunits called sulcal roots. Seventeen normal brains (male: 11, female: 6, age: 22–60) were systematically analyzed. Additionally, parameters generated by visual observation were recorded. Non-parametric statistics were performed to evaluate the variation of the STs and influence of side, handedness and sex. We found that the 3D architecture of the STs was consistent with our generic model in four sulcal roots and four “plis de passage” (PP) and significant differences between right and left hemispheres. These morphological differences may be related to the language-relevant cortical areas difference and are pertinent for defining the limits of morphometric variability of the STs in “normal humans”.

Section snippets

Purpose and introduction

Sulci and gyri provide a natural topographic partition of the cortical anatomy. Additionally, the junctional zones between adjacent functional or architectonic fields frequently run along the bed of major or minor cortical sulci Rademacher et al., 1993, Roland and Zilles, 1994, Sanides, 1962, Watson et al., 1993. Tremendous variability in the size, shape and configuration of cortical gyri and sulci have been well demonstrated Damasio and Damasio, 1989, Evans et al., 1992, Keyserlingk et al.,

Subjects

Twenty-nine unselected normal adult volunteers were studied using Magnetic Resonance. Those with anatomical abnormalities detected by experienced neurosurgeons and/or no suitable quality 3D brain image (after post-processing with our software: BrainVisa (http://brainvisa.info) were excluded. Furthermore, to improve the reliability of this analysis, after a first statistical analysis, we isolated a subgroup including only right-handed volunteers (with a short-handedness questionnaire on the hand

Results

The results are segmented in two major parts: analysis of each “pli de passage” (PP) related to depthness and size, then analysis of the morphological attributes of STs. Each sub-group, whole population, male and female are analyzed separately.

Concerning the relationship between side and depthness (see Table 1) for each PP in the whole population the anteropolar PP is systematically superficial. The intermediate “pli de passage” shows a statistical correlation with side. The left one is more

Discussion

The asymmetry in the brain gyration was first identified in the sylvian region. Eberstaller (1890) studying post-mortem specimens have noticed that the sylvian fissure was longer on the left side and 2 years later, Cunningham added that on the right side, the fissure was more vertically angulated by 4° (Cunningham, 1892). This observation was confirmed by Talairach in 1957 relying on pneumoencephalography (Talairach et al., 1967) Szikla in 1977 using angiographies (Szikla et al., 1977) and

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