Labache, L., Joliot, M., Saracco, J., Jobard, G., Hesling, I., Zago, L., … & Tzourio-Mazoyer, N. (2019). A SENtence Supramodal Areas AtlaS (SENSAAS) based on multiple task-induced activation mapping and graph analysis of intrinsic connectivity in 144 healthy right-handers. Brain Structure and Function, 224(2), 859-882. DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1810-2
Here we develop and provide an atlas in standardized MNI volume space of 32 sentence-related areas based on a 3-step method. This method combines the analysis of activation and asymmetry during multiple language tasks with hierarchical clustering of resting-state connectivity and graph analyses.
Thirty-two multimodal areas of sentence processing, activated and leftward asymmetrical during sentence production, reading, and listening, were identified by comparison with a reference task (word list production, reading, and listening). The temporal correlations at rest between these 32 regions enabled the detection of their belonging to three networks. Among these networks, one, including 18 regions, contains the essential language areas (SENT_CORE network), i.e., those whose lesion would cause an alteration in the understanding of speech.
The Atlas folder contains 4 files:
read_me_SENSAAS.rtf: README file containing information about the atlasSENSAAS_MNI_ICBM_152_2mm.nii: NIfTI file containing the 32 brain language regions in the MNI space
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SENSAAS_description.csv: CSV file containing a full description of each region. The first column, Network, corresponds to which of the three networks a region belongs. The second column, Abbreviation, is the abbreviation of a region. The third column, Region, is the full anatomical label of a region. Hemisphere refers to the cerebral hemisphere to which a region belongs: “left” corresponds to the regions in the left hemisphere (as selected in the paper), “right” to the regions in the right hemisphere (useful to compute asymmetries). Index is the index of each region that is used in the NIfTI file. The MNI coordinates (columns Xmm, Ymm, Zmm) of each region’s centroid are also provided. Number of Voxels and Volume mm³ are the number of voxels and the volume (in cubic millimeters) of each region for the 2mm version of the atlas. -
template_ANTs_80tvs_on_MNI.nii.gz: brain template used to align the atlas on, provided in MNI stereotaxic space (MNI ICBM 152, Template sampling size of 2x2x2 mm3 voxels; bounding box, x = -90 to 90 mm, y = -126 to 91 mm, z = -72 to 109 mm)
The 3 networks are briefly described below. For researchers interested in language, they should focus on the 18 brain regions belonging to the network named SENT_CORE.
- SENT_CORE included 18 essential sentence processing regions.
- SENT_VISU aggregated areas acknowledged as involved in visual processing.
- SENT_MEM aggregated areas belonging to both the posterior regions of the DMN involved in episodic memory.
SENT_CORE included areas of the antero-posterior language networks, named in reference to the Broca–Wernicke model in aphasia literature and reported with consistency in meta-analyses of healthy individuals mapped during language tasks. The anterior pole corresponded to the regions named F3t, equivalent to Broca area. The posterior pole corresponded to Wernicke area (STS3 & STS4).
- Word-List Multimodal Cortical Atlas: WMCA
- HAnd MOtor Area atlas: HAMOTA
- Atlas of Lateralized visuospatial Attentional Networks: ALANs
- Atlas of Intrinsic Connectivity of Homotopic Areas: AICHA
Please contact me (Loïc Labache) as loic.labache@yale.edu and/or loic.labache@ensc.fr