Table 1.
Correlation between Structural MRI analysis and Neuropsychological findings: main characteristics of the neuroimaging studies included.
| References | Participants | Mean age (SD); range | Neuroimaging acquisition | Neuroimaging results | Neuropsychological correlations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moore et al. (13) | 52 NF1 19 controls | 9,8 (3,6); r: 3-16,9 10,9 (2,7); r: 7-16 |
MRI T1 | Higher volume of GM | Learning disability |
| Larger CC size | Academic achievement and visual-spatial and motor-skills | ||||
| Kayl et al. (14) | 36 NF1 18 controls | 10,6 (2,8); r: 6-16 11,0 (2,7); r: 6-16 |
MRI T1 | Larger total CC area | Less attention problems |
| Billingsley et al. (15) | 24 NF1 24 controls | 10,8; r: 7,4-15,8 11,5; r: 7-16,6 |
MRI T1 | Less leftward asymmetry | Poorer reading and math achievement |
| Billinsley et al. (16) | 38 NF1 38 controls | 10,8; r: 7,4-15,8 11,5; r: 7-16,6 |
MRI T1 | Right IFG: typical pattern | Worse for all language measurements (phonologic fluency, verbal knowledge, reading, spelling and verbal memory) |
| Heschl's gyrus: doubling in left hemisphere | Poorer performance on verbal memory, fine motor speed and coordination measurements | ||||
| Heschl's gyrus: doubling in right hemisphere | Better performance on math, verbal memory and fine motor speed | ||||
| Huijbregts et al. (17) | 15 NF1 18 controls | 12,9 (2,6) 13,8 (3,6) |
MRI T1 | Larger left putamen volume and larger total WM volume | More social problems and poorer executive functioning |
| Larger right amygdala volume | Poorer executive functioning and autistic mannerisms | ||||
| Aydin et al. (18) | 37 NF1 31 controls | 12,9 (2,6) 9,83 (3,76) |
MRI DWI: ADC | Genu CC: higher ADC values | Poorer arithmetic, digit span and coding scores |
| MRI DWI: FA | Genu CC: higher FA values | Poorer coding scores | |||
| Koini et al. (19) | 16 NF1 32 controls | 12,45 (2,75); r: 9,3-18,6 12,43 (2,99); r: 9,2-19,0 |
MRI DWI: FA MD AD RD | Altered whole brain microstructure (MD and AD) and ATR; but not CB and SLF | Poorer executive functioning: inhibitory control. No correlation with verbal and performance abilities |
AD, axial diffusion; ADC, apparent diffusion coefficient; ATR, anterior thalamic radiation; CB, cingulate bundle; CC, corpus callosum; DWI, diffusion weighted images; FA, fractional anisotropy; GM, gray matter; IFG, inferior frontal gyrus; MD, mean diffusivity; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NF1, neurofibromatosis type 1; r, range; RD, radial diffusion; SD, standard deviation; SLF, superior longitudinal fasciculus; WM, white matter.