Altered functional connectivity among frontal eye fields, thalamus and cerebellum in bipolar disorder

Tekst dostępny na stronie czasopisma w dwóch wersjach językowych, angielskiej i polskiej

Objectives. The aim of our study is to evaluate functional connectivity of cerebello-thalamo-cortical networks linking frontal eye fields (FEF) and cerebellar regions associated with oculomotor control: nodulus (X), uvula (IX), flocculus (H X) and ventral paraflocculus (H IX) in bipolar disorder (BD) with the use of resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI).Methods. 19 euthymic BD patients and 14 healthy controls underwent rsfMRI examination. Functional connectivity between bilateral FEF, thalamus and cerebellar regions associated with oculomotor control was evaluated.Results. BD patients revealed decreased functional connectivity between following struc-tures: right FEF and bilateral thalamus, flocculus (H X), uvula (IX); right thalamus and right FEF; between right flocculus (H X) and right FEF, left thalamus; between left thalamus and bilateral FEF and right flocculus (H X). Conclusions. BD patients presented decreased functional connectivity among FEF, thala-mus and cerebellar structures associated with eye movements control. Oculomotor evaluation of BD patients assessed with rsfMRI may help to determine whether altered functional con-nectivity observed in our study is associated with eye movements deficits in BD.