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Publications

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Under review

Lifespan Trajectories of Asymmetry in White Matter Tracts.

Kanakaraj P, Bogdanov, S et al.

Asymmetry in white matter is believed to give rise to the brain’s capacity for specialized
processing and is involved in the lateralization of various cognitive processes, such as language
and visuo-spatial reasoning. Although studies of white matter asymmetry have been previously
documented, they have often been constrained by limited age ranges, sample sizes, or the scope of
the tracts and structural features examined. While normative lifespan charts for brain structures
are emerging, comprehensive charts detailing white matter asymmetries across numerous
pathways and diverse structural measures have been notably absent.
This study addresses this gap by leveraging a large-scale dataset of 26,199 typically developing
and aging individuals, ranging from 0 to 100 years of age, from 42 primary neuroimaging studies.
We generated comprehensive lifespan trajectories for 30 lateralized association and projection
white matter tracts, examining 14 distinct microstructural and macrostructural features of these
pathways.
Our findings reveal that: (1) asymmetries are widespread across the brain’s white matter and are
present in all 30 pathways; (2) for a given pathway, the degree and direction of asymmetry differ
between features of tissue microstructure and pathway macrostructure; (3) asymmetries vary
across and within pathway types (association and projection tracts); and (4) these asymmetries are
not static, following unique trajectories across the lifespan, with distinct changes during
development, and a general trend of becoming more asymmetric with increasing age (particularly
in later adulthood) across pathways.
This study the most extensive characterization of white matter asymmetry across the lifespan to
date, charting how lateralization patterns emerge, mature, and change throughout life. It provides
a foundational resource for understanding the principles of white matter organization from early
to late life, its relation to functional specialization and inter-individual variability, and offers a key
reference for interpreting deviations during healthy development and aging as well as those
associated with clinical populations.

Journal Article

Human Brain Mapping

Preoperative brain mapping predicts language outcomes after eloquent tumor resection

Muir, M.; Noll, K.; Prinsloo, S.; Michener, H.; Traylor, J. I.; Kumar, V. A.; Ene, C. I.; Ferguson, S.; Weinberg, J.; Lang, F.; Taylor, B.; Forkel, S. J.; Prabhu, S. S.

Journal Article

Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Neurosurgery. Berlin: Springer

Combining anTMS and tractography for language mapping: An integrated paradigm for neurosurgical planning

Ohlerth, A.-K.; Lavrador, J. P.; Vergani, F. & Forkel, S. J.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-97155-6_10

Brain Structure & Function, 230: 75

Cross-species neuroanatomy in primates using tractography

Sotiropoulos, S. N.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Haber, S. N. & Forkel, S. J.

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-025-02914-8

Brain Structure & Function, 230: 59

The scientific value of tractography: Accuracy vs usefulness

Rheault, F.; Mayberg, H.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Roebroeck, A.; Forkel, S. J.

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-025-02921-9

Brain Structure & Function, 230: 46

The knight and his queen: Rudolf Nieuwenhuys’ legacy, anchored in anatomy

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-025-02910-y

Encyclopedia of the Human Brain (2nd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier

Navigating neuroanatomy

Dulyan, L.; Guzmán Chacón, E. G. & Forkel, S. J.

https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_3612774_2/component/file_3612813/content

Handbook of Clinical Neurology (pp. 15–36). Amsterdam: Elsevier

Oncology: Brain asymmetries in language-relevant brain tumors

Satoer, D.; Dulyan, L. & Forkel, S. J.

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-15646-5.00041-5

Brain Structure & Function, 229, 251–255

Embracing digital innovation in neuroscience: 2023 in review at NEUROCCINO

Guzmán Chacón, E.; Ovando-Tellez, M.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Forkel, S. J.

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-024-02768-6

Brain, 147(2), e11–e13

Testing the disconnectome symptom discoverer model on out-of-sample post-stroke language outcomes

Hope, T. M. H.; Neville, D.; Talozzi, L.; Foulon, C.; Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Price, C. J.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad352

Communications Biology, 7: 1655

Functional anatomy and topographical organization of the frontotemporal arcuate fasciculus

Basile, G. A.; Nozais, V.; Quartarone, A.; Giustiniani, A.; Ielo, A.; Cerasa, A.; Milardi, D.; Abdallah, M.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Forkel, S. J.; Cacciola, A.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07274-3

Brain Structure & Function, 229, 2073–2078

Redefining language networks: Connectivity beyond localised regions

Forkel, S. J. & Hagoort, P.

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-024-02859-4

Molecular Psychiatry, 28, 4098–4123

White matter alterations in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of 129 diffusion imaging studies with meta-analysis

Parlatini, V.; Itahashi, T.; Lee, Y.; Liu, S.; Nguyen, T. T.; Aoki, Y. Y.; Forkel, S. J.; Catani, M.; Rubia, K.; Zhou, J. H.; Murphy, D. G.; Cortese, S.

http://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02173-1

Science, 378(6619), 505–510

The emergent properties of the connected brain

Thiebaut de Schotten, M. & Forkel, S. J.

http://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq2591

Brain, 145(3), 801–804

Paul Broca: from fame to shame?

Boraud, T. & Forkel, S. J.

http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab444

Brain Structure and Function, 227, 2897–2908

Stroke disconnectome decodes reading networks

Forkel, S. J.; Labache, L.; Nachev, P.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Hesling, I.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-022-02575-x

Brain Structure and Function, 227, 3085–3098

Longitudinal prediction of motor dysfunction after stroke: a disconnectome study

Dulyan, L.; Talozzi, L.; Pacella, V.; Corbetta, M.; Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-022-02589-5

Neuron, 110(23), 3860–3863

How do different parts of brain white matter develop after birth in humans?

Genon, S. & Forkel, S. J.

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.11.011

Encyclopedia of Behavioral Neuroscience (2nd ed.), 142–154

Lesion-Symptom Mapping: From Single Cases to the Human Disconnectome

http://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819641-0.00056-6

Neuron, 109(11), 1769–1775

Brainhack: Developing a culture of open, inclusive, community-driven neuroscience

Gau, R.; Noble, S.; Heuer, K.; Bottenhorn, K. L.; Bilgin, I. P.; Yang, Y.-F.; Huntenburg, J. M.; ...; Forkel, S. J.; ...

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.04.001

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 152–164

The squirrel monkey model in clinical neuroscience

Royo, J.; Forkel, S. J.; Pouget, P.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.006

The Journal of Neuroscience, 40(10), 2094–2107

Differences in Frontal Network Anatomy Across Primate Species

Barrett, R. L. C.; Dawson, M.; Dyrby, T. B.; Krug, K.; Ptito, M.; D'Arceuil, H.; Croxson, P. L.; Johnson, P. J.; Howells, H.; Forkel, S. J.; Dell'Acqua, F.; Catani, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1650-18.2019

NeuroImage, 216: 116863

Anchoring the human olfactory system within a functional gradient

Waymel, A.; Friedrich, P.; Bastian, P.-A.; Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116863

Cortex, 128, 297–311

The role of left fronto-parietal tracts in hand selection: Evidence from neurosurgery

Howells, H.; Puglisi, G.; Leonetti, A.; Viganò, L.; Fornia, L.; Simone, L.; Forkel, S. J.; Rossi, M.; Riva, M.; Cerri, G.; Bello, L.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2020.03.018

NeuroImage, 223: 117317

Mapping the principal gradient onto the corpus callosum

Friedrich, P.; Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117317

Physics of Life Reviews, 30, 30–33

One size fits all does not apply to brain lateralisation

Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Friedrich, P.; Forkel, S. J.

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2019.07.007

Brain and Language, 183, 32–40

Neural organization of ventral white matter tracts parallels the initial steps of reading development: A DTI tractography study

Vanderauwera, J.; De Vos, A.; Forkel, S. J.; Catani, M.; Wouters, J.; Vandermosten, M.; Ghesquière, P.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2018.05.007

Neuropsychologia, 115, 88–100

Lesion mapping in acute stroke aphasia and its implications for recovery

Forkel, S. J. & Catani, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.03.036

Brain, 139(3), 971–985

Mentalizing the body: Spatial and social cognition in anosognosia for hemiplegia

Besharati, S.; Forkel, S. J.; Kopelman, M.; Solms, M.; Jenkinson, P.; Fotopoulou, A.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awv390

Cortex, 62, 182–202

The white matter of the human cerebrum: Part I The occipital lobe by Heinrich Sachs

Forkel, S. J.; Mahmood, S.; Vergani, F.; Catani, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2014.10.023

Cortex, 61, 127–140

The affective modulation of motor awareness in anosognosia for hemiplegia: Behavioural and lesion evidence

Besharati, S.; Forkel, S. J.; Kopelman, M.; Solms, M.; Jenkinson, P. M.; Fotopoulou, A.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2014.08.016

Brain, 137, 2027–2039

Anatomical predictors of aphasia recovery: a tractography study of bilateral perisylvian language networks

Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Dell’Acqua, F.; Kalra, L.; Murphy, D. G. M.; Williams, S. C. R.; Catani, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awu113

Cortex, 48(10), 1262–1287

Beyond cortical localization in clinico-anatomical correlation

Catani, M.; Dell'Acqua, F.; Bizzi, A.; Forkel, S. J.; Williams, S. C.; Simmons, A.; Murphy, D. G.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2012.07.001

Biological Psychiatry, 70(12), 1143–1150

Altered integrity of perisylvian language pathways in schizophrenia: Relationship to auditory hallucinations

Catani, M.; Craig, M. C.; Forkel, S. J.; Kanaan, R.; Picchioni, M.; Toulopoulou, T.; Shergill, S.; Williams, S.; Murphy, D. G.; McGuire, P.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.06.013

Under review

Neurovariability as a signature of adaptive brain function

Forkel S.J.; Dulyan L; Schilling K, Thiebaut de Schotten M

Journal Article

Aperture Neuro, 5(SI 2)

The organization for human brain mapping time machine: A freely accessible archive of annual meeting talks on YouTube

Wearn, A.; Sitek, K. R.; Valk, S. L. & Forkel, S. J.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.52294/001c.138647

Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Neurosurgery. Berlin: Springer

Harnessing advanced tractography in neurosurgical practice

Beyh, A.; Ohlerth, A.-K. & Forkel, S. J.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-97155-6_21

Handbook of Diffusion MR Tractography. Amsterdam: Elsevier

Dissecting white matter pathways: A neuroanatomical approach

Forkel, S. J.; Bortolami, C.; Dulyan, L.; Barrett, R. L. C.; Beyh, A.

https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_3641832_1/component/file_3641833/content

Brain Structure & Function, 230: 79

Animal models are useful in studying human neuroanatomy with tractography

Roebroeck, A.; Haber, S.; Borra, E.; Schiavi, S.; Forkel, S. J.; Rockland, K.; Dyrby, T. B.; Schilling, K.

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-025-02945-1

Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Amsterdam: Elsevier

Asymmetries in the human brain

Dulyan, L.; Bortolami, C. & Forkel, S. J.

https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_3641823_1/component/file_3641824/content

Network Neuroscience, 9(1), 352–370

Translational Network Neuroscience: Nine roadblocks and possible solutions

Fekonja, L. S.; Forkel, S. J.; Baran Aydogan, D. B.; Lioumis, P.; Cacciola, A.; Weiß Lucas, C.; Tournier, J.-D.; Vergani, F.; Ritter, P.; Schenk, R.; Shams, B.; Engelhardt, M. J.; Picht, T.

Journal Article

https://doi.org/10.1162/netn_a_00435

Nature Communications, 15: 8452

The morphospace of the brain-cognition organisation

Pacella, V.; Nozais, V.; Talozzi, L.; Abdallah, M.; Wassermann, D.; Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52186-9

The Journal of Neuroscience, 44(50): e0166242024

The relationship between white matter architecture and language lateralisation in the healthy brain

Andrulyte, I.; De Bezenac, C.; Branzi, F.; Forkel, S. J.; Taylor, P. N.; Keller, S. S.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0166-24.2024

Cortex, 181, 93–100

The future of science publishing

Della Sala, S.; Bathelt, J.; Buchtel, H.; Tavano, A.; Press, C.; Love, B.; Croy, I.; Morris, R.; Kotz, S.; Kopelman, M. D.; Coco, M. I.; Reber, P.; Forkel, S. J.; Schweinberger, S. R.

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2024.10.005

Imaging Neuroscience, 2, 1–35

The coming decade of digital brain research: A vision for neuroscience at the intersection of technology and computing

Amunts, K.; Axer, M.; Banerjee, S.; Bitsch, L.; Bjaalie, J. G.; ...; Forkel, S. J.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1162/imag_a_00137

Brain

Latent scale disconnectome prediction of individual symptom severity in chronic stroke.

Talozzi L; Forkel SJ; Pacella V; Nozais V; Nachev P; Corbetta M; Thiebaut De Schotten M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad013

Communications Biology, 6: 726

Atlasing white matter and grey matter joint contributions to resting-state networks in the human brain

Nozais, V.; Forkel, S. J.; Petit, L.; Talozzi, L.; Corbetta, M.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Joliot, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05107-3

Brain Structure & Function, 227, 529–544

White matter variability, cognition, and disorders: a systematic review

Forkel, S. J.; Friedrich, P.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Howells, H.

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02382-w

Encyclopedia of Behavioral Neuroscience (2nd ed.), 233–241

White matter variability, cognition, and disorders

Forkel, S. J.; Friedrich, P.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Howells, H.

https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_3641851_1/component/file_3641852/content

Communications Biology, 5: 1343

The subcortical and neurochemical organization of the ventral and dorsal attention networks

Alves, P. N.; Forkel, S. J.; Corbetta, M.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04281-0

Communications Biology, 5: 742

Multimodal anatomy of the human forniceal commissure

Akeret, K.; Forkel, S. J.; Buzzi, R. M.; Vasella, F.; Amrein, I.; Colacicco, G.; Regli, L.; Serra, C.; Krayenbühl, N.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03692-3

NeuroImage, 249: 118795

The genetic architecture of language functional connectivity

Mekki, Y.; Guillemot, V.; Lemaître, H.; Carrión-Castillo, A.; Forkel, S. J.; Frouin, V.; Philippe, C.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118795

Communications Biology, 4: 1035

Functionnectome as a framework to analyse the contribution of brain circuits to fMRI

Nozais, V.; Forkel, S. J.; Foulon, C.; Petit, L.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02530-2

NeuroImage, 228: 117685

Imaging evolution of the primate brain: The next frontier?

Friedrich, P.; Forkel, S. J.; Amiez, C.; Balsters, J. H.; Coulon, O.; Fan, L.; Goulas, A.; Hadj-Bouziane, F.; Hecht, E. E.; Heuer, K.; Jiang, T.; Latzman, R. D.; Liu, X.; Loh, K. K.; Patil, K. R.; Lopez-Persem, A.; Procyk, E.; Sallet, J.; Toro, R.; Vickery, S.; ...

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117685

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 117(5), 2251–2252

An ancestral anatomical and spatial bias for visually guided behavior

Friedrich, P.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Forkel, S. J.; Stacho, M.; Howells, H.

http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1918402117

Brain, 143(3), 718–721

Towards metabolic disconnection – symptom mapping

Forkel, S. J. & Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaa060

Neuron, 105(4), 600–603

Accelerating the Evolution of Nonhuman Primate Neuroimaging

Milham, M.; Petkov, C. I.; Margulies, D. S.; Schroeder, C. E.; Basso, M. A.; Belin, P.; Fair, D. A.; Fox, A.; Kastner, S.; Mars, R. B.; ...; Forkel, S. J.; ...

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2019.12.023

Neurology, 94, e594–e606

Anatomical evidence of an indirect pathway for word repetition

Forkel, S. J.; Rogalski, E.; Drossinos Sancho, N.; D'Anna, L.; Luque Laguna, P.; Sridhar, J.; Dell'Acqua, F.; Weintraub, S.; Thompson, C.; Mesulam, M.-M.; Catani, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000008746

The Oxford Handbook of Neurolinguistics, 212–228

Diffusion imaging methods in language sciences

Forkel, S. J. & Catani, M.

https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190672027.013.9

Cerebral Cortex, 28(11), 3829–3841

Structural Variability Across the Primate Brain: A Cross-Species Comparison

Croxson, P.; Forkel, S. J.; Cerliani, L.; Thiebaut De Schotten, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhx244

Research Methods in Psycholinguistics and the Neurobiology of Language: A Practical Guide

Structural Neuroimaging

Forkel, S. J. & Catani, M.

http://doi.org/10.1002/9781394259762.ch15

Cortex, 97, 339–357

Short parietal lobe connections of the human and monkey brain

Catani, M.; Robertsson, N.; Beyh, A.; Huynh, V.; de Santiago Requejo, F.; Howells, H.; Barrett, R. L.; Aiello, M.; Cavaliere, C.; Dyrby, T. B.; Krug, K.; Ptito, M.; D'Arceuil, H.; Forkel, S. J.; Dell'Acqua, F.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2017.10.022

Journal of Neurology, 262, 498–500

Heinrich Sachs (1863–1928)

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-014-7517-2

Nobel Laureate Meeting

Professor Elizabeth Blackburn on Unconscious Biases

Forkel S.J. & Howells H.

https://www.lindau-nobel.org/professor-elizabeth-blackburn-on-unconscious-biases/

Cortex, 56, 73–84

The anatomy of fronto-occipital connections from early blunt dissections to contemporary tractography

Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Dell’Acqua, F.; Kawadler, J. M.; Kalra, L.; Danek, A.; Catani, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2012.09.005

Cortex, 56, 145–156

Intralobar fibres of the occipital lobe: A post mortem dissection study

Vergani, F.; Mahmood, S.; Morris, C.; Mitchell, P.; Forkel, S. J.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2014.03.002

Nature Neuroscience, 14, 1245–1246

A lateralized brain network for visuospatial attention

Thiebaut de Schotten, M.; Dell'Acqua, F.; Forkel, S. J.; Simmons, A.; Vergani, F.; Murphy, D. G. M.; Catani, M.

Journal Article

http://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2905

The Two Halves of the Brain: Information Processing in the Cerebral Hemispheres

Asymmetry of white matter pathways in the brain

Catani, M.; Forkel, S. J.; Thiebaut de Schotten, M.

https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_3641869_1/component/file_3641870/content

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