Fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity changes in patients suffering from vestibular loss.

<p>A. FA is reduced in patients compared to their healthy control group. Voxels showing a significant lower FA of BVF compared to BC are shown in blue. Altogether, 11,546 voxels were significant; atr = anterior thalamic radiation, cc = corpus callosum, cng = cingulum, ec = external capsule, fm = forceps minor, fM = forceps major, fx = fornix, ifof = inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uf = uncinate fasciculus, slf = superior longitudinal fasciculus. B. RD is higher in patients compared to the control group in similar areas (red-yellow). Significant voxels are overlaid on seven axial slices of the MNI152_T1_1mm_brain standard image included in FSL and the mean FA skeleton mask (white).</p

Characteristics of patients with bilateral vestibular failure.

a<p>SPEV = slow phase eye velocity.</p

Characteristics of subjects trained in balance sports.

a<p>Experience was calculated by multiplying the hours of training per week averaged over the past year by the number of years the individual had been practicing the activity.</p

Fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity changes of patients and balance trained persons.

<p>Both study groups, patients with bilateral vestibular loss and balance trained individuals show FA reductions and RD increases compared to their control groups. A. Voxels showing a significant lower FA of BVF+T compared to BC+TC are shown in blue. Altogether, 21,933 voxels were significant; atr = anterior thalamic radiation, cc = corpus callosum, cng = cingulum, cst = corticospinal tract, ec = external capsule, fm = forceps minor, fx = fornix, ic = internal capsule, ifof = inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uf = uncinate fasciculus, slf = superior longitudinal fasciculus, st = stria terminalis. B. RD is higher in the study groups compared to the control groups in similar areas (red-yellow). Significant voxels are overlaid on seven axial slices of the MNI152_T1_1mm_brain standard image included in FSL and the mean FA skeleton mask (white).</p

Fractional anisotropy correlates with age.

<p>FA values decrease with increasing age in widespread areas of white matter tracts. WM tracts showing significant correlation between FA and age of all 61 subjects are shown in blue. Altogether, 12,868 voxels were significant; atr = anterior thalamic radiation, cc = corpus callosum, ec = external capsule, fm = forceps minor, fM = forceps major, fx = fornix, ifof = inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uf = uncinate fasciculus, st = stria terminalis. Significant voxels are overlaid on seven axial slices of the MNI152_T1_1mm_brain standard image included in FSL and the mean FA skeleton mask (white).</p

FA difference map comparison.

<p>FA difference maps were created and compared for BVF-BC and T-TC. These maps differed in a small area of the corpus callosum (red). Within this area, patients (BVF) had a lower FA compared to their control group (BC), while balance trained persons (T) had a slightly higher FA compared to their control group. Significant voxels are overlaid on the MNI152_T1_1mm_brain standard image (x = 10 mm, y = −3 mm, z = 29 mm) included in FSL and the mean FA skeleton mask (white). The cluster of significant voxels comprised 53 voxels.</p

Mean FA, RD and AD (± SD) across all voxels that survived thresholding for the comparison between study groups and control groups.

<p>Mean FA, RD and AD (± SD) across all voxels that survived thresholding for the comparison between study groups and control groups.</p

Results of the cognitive performance tests.

<p>Values represent the amount of correct responses out of 12 possible responses for the Doors and out of 37 possible responses for the MWT-B test.</p