BACKGROUND Primary blepharospasm is a focal dystonia characterised by excessive involuntary closure of the eyelids. The pathophysiology of primary blepharospasm is unresolved. AIM To pinpoint grey-matter changes that are associated with primary blepharospasm. METHODS 16 right-handed patients with primary blepharospasm (mean age 67.4 (SD 4.3) years; 12 women) were compared with 16 healthy vo...

The magnetization transfer ratio reflects the integrity of tissue structure, including myelination and axonal density. Mean magnetization transfer ratio fell in 18 untreated patients with multiple sclerosis both in normal appearing grey (-0.25 pu/year, p < 0.001) and white matter (-0.12 pu/year, p = 0.004). Conversely, mean magnetization transfer ratio was stable in 20 alemtuzumab-treated patie...

Th e abundance of grey matter damage in multiple sclerosis and its clinical relevance is currently fully recognized. Although previous studies have provided information regarding determinants of grey matter atrophy and its relationship with disability in multiple sclerosis, the majority of these studies were limited by their sample size. Th e objectives of the current study were therefore to: 1...

In multiple sclerosis (MS), diffuse degenerative processes in the deep grey matter have been associated with clinical disabilities. We performed a systematic study in MS deep grey matter with a focus on the incidence and topographical distribution of lesions in relation to white matter and cortex in a total sample of 75 MS autopsy patients and 12 controls. In addition, detailed analyses of infl...

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS MSJ JOURNAL The title statement contains two separate claims: 1. 'MS is a grey matter disease', and 2. '[the grey matter part of] MS cannot be adequately assessed by standard clinical and MRI measures'. The first claim might be understood in more than one sense. For example, 'MS is a grey matter disease' might simply mean 'MS pathology is found in areas that are anatomically ...

BACKGROUND Thalamic glutamine loss and grey matter reduction suggest neurodegeneration in first-episode schizophrenia, but the duration is unknown. AIMS To observe glutamine and glutamate levels, grey matter volumes and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia followed to 80 months after diagnosis. METHOD Grey matter volumes and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolites in...

BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown diffuse cerebral atrophy following traumatic brain injury. In the past, quantitative volumetric analysis of these changes was carried out by manually tracing specific regions of interest. In contrast, voxel based morphometry (VBM) is a fully automated technique that allows examination of the whole brain on a voxel by voxel basis. ...

Is sexual orientation associated with structural differences in the brain? To address this question, 80 homosexual and heterosexual men and women (16 homosexual men and 15 homosexual women) underwent structural MRI. We used voxel-based morphometry to test for differences in grey matter concentration associated with gender and sexual orientation. Compared with heterosexual women, homosexual wome...

OBJECTIVES To investigate regional differences in grey matter volume associated with the practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation. DESIGN Twenty three experienced practitioners of Sahaja Yoga Meditation and twenty three non-meditators matched on age, gender and education level, were scanned using structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging and their grey matter volume were compared using Voxel-Based Morp...

Functional changes in sensorimotor representation occur in response to use and lesion throughout life. Emerging evidence suggests that functional changes are paralleled by respective macroscopic structural changes. In the present study we used voxel-based morphometry to investigate sensorimotor cortex in subjects with congenitally malformed upper extremities. We expected increased or decreased ...