Functional Neuroimaging of White Matter Integrity in Cognitive Dysfunction: Linking Neuroscience Research with Clinical Evaluation

Normal function of the human brain relies on distributed neural network systems, where neural fibers (white matter) link specialized processing regions (gray matter). Using the basic analogy of lines connecting dots within a network, almost fifty percent of brain tissue is comprised of white matter "lines". This proposal focuses on role of these white matter connections in brain conditions with cognitive dysfunction. Disruptions in white matter have long been known to cause problems in mental functioning, yet current functional imaging approaches focus almost exclusively on gray matter. We have developed advanced imaging to examine function in white matter. The next step is to apply this discovery to improved diagnosis in neurological patients. The current Canada-China collaboration takes advantage of an existing two year relationship between our team at Dalhousie University and the corresponding team at Tianjin Medical University in China. Joint research is already underway and highly skilled personnel are being exchanged for advanced training opportunities. This application proposes to significantly expand on this progress by developing white matter functional imaging as a clinical diagnostic method. The Chinese team will focus on large scale clinical testing of neurological patients and integration of white matter function with existing structural imaging approaches. Importantly, this work will not focus on a given disease per se, but rather in cognitive processing affected by range of neurological conditions. These conditions will include not only common white matter diseases like multiple sclerosis, but will also expand the scope to diseases not commonly considered as white matter diseases (e.g., stroke and dementia). Findings of this research will allow better understanding fundamental mechanisms underlying functional neural connection/disconnection in cognitive dysfunction with an emphasis on significantly improving diagnostic imaging in neurology.