多模态脑语言功能皮质及其传导通路的研究

The mechanism of human language processing is extremely complex, involving various parts of functional cortices and subcortical pathways. The existing brain language models fail to meet the needs for precise mapping language eloquent areas on cerebral glioma patients during the practice of neurosurgery. Multimodal brain imaging techniques provided us the necessary means for analyzing the functional structure of brain language from different perspectives. By fusing functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), the applicant previously found that the functional cortex and subcortical conduction pathway were closely related to participate in language processing. Based on multimodal brain imaging data, this study will focus on the language functional cortex and its conduction pathway in brain glioma patients and healthy people. First, glioma lesions and language behavioral indicators will be combined to establish brain tumor lesions - Language function disorder model; on this basis, the analysis of multimodal functional images will be conducted from different scales to describe the language functional cortex; Meanwhile, using fiber tracking technique, the subcortical conduction pathways will be reconstructed, so as to prove its connection with the language function cortex. Finally, by fusing multimodal brain networks, we aim to locate new language eloquent areas, establish a novel language processing model, reveal the mechanism of language dysfunctions in patients with glioma, and provide theoretical basis for preoperative multi-modal language function mapping.

人脑语言功能处理机制极其复杂，涉及大脑多个部位功能皮质及皮质下传导通路。现有脑语言模型已无法满足神经外科对脑胶质瘤患者语言功能区精确定位的需求。多模态脑影像技术为我们从不同角度分析刻画脑语言功能结构提供了必要手段。申请人在前期研究中融合功能磁共振及弥散张量成像，发现语言功能皮质与皮质下传导通路紧密关联，共同参与语言功能处理。本项目拟基于多模态脑影像数据，对脑胶质瘤患者和健康人群的语言功能皮质及其传导通路展开研究，首先将脑胶质瘤病灶与语言行为学指标结合，建立肿瘤病灶-语言功能障碍模型；在此基础上，分析多模态脑功能影像，从不同尺度刻画脑语言功能皮质；同时利用纤维示踪技术重建语言皮质下传导通路，探明其与语言功能皮质的联系；最后，通过融合不同模态脑网络，定位新的语言关键脑区，建立语言功能处理模型，揭示胶质瘤患者语言功能障碍的产生机制，并为术前多模态语言功能精准定位技术提供理论依据。

人脑语言功能处理机制极其复杂，涉及大脑多个部位功能皮质、皮质下传导通路和皮质间的功能连接。现有脑语言模型已无法满足神经外科对脑胶质瘤患者语言功能区精确定位的需求。本课题基于多模态MRI（结构像、弥散张量成像及静息态功能磁共振），围绕人脑语言处理机制展开了一系列研究。在研究的过程中，我们制定了围手术期功能区脑胶质瘤病例的认知行为学及多模态影像采集操作规范，并在此规范指导下建立起逾500例患者数据组成的功能区胶质瘤多模态影像数据库。基于这些大样本脑功能区胶质瘤病理，我们：（1）揭示了低级别胶质瘤的肿瘤最大直径更能反映患者语言功能受损情况，并由此提出提示了低级别胶质瘤沿白质纤维通路生长的特性可能是引发并加重患者语言功能障碍的最重要原因；（2）定位了和患者语言理解功能相关的核心脑区皮质及皮质下传导通路，明确大脑背侧和腹侧通路均参与语言处理过程；（3）定位患者命名功能相关的核心脑区皮质，并发现了核心脑区皮质神经活动及脑区间功能连接和命名功能密切相关，揭示了脑胶质瘤会引起大脑功能活动改变进而导致功能障碍。此外，我们提出了利用弓状束/上纵束纤维重建技术定位额叶语言中枢的新方法，并利用直接电刺激和任务态fMRI验证其可靠性。本研究不仅建立了一套可靠的脑语言功能定位及保护策略， 还提出了一系列语言功能定位新方法及新理论， 对当代脑科学与国人汉语语言功能定位提供了新的证据。