Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection

Abstract The topographic organization of category-selective responses in human ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOTC) and its relationship to regions subserving language functions is remarkably uniform across individuals. This arrangement is thought to result from the clustering of neurons respondin...

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Main Authors: Tina T. Liu, Michael C. Granovetter, Anne Margarette S. Maallo, Sophia Robert, Jason Z Fu, Christina Patterson, David C. Plaut, Marlene Behrmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08554-2
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author Tina T. Liu
Michael C. Granovetter
Anne Margarette S. Maallo
Sophia Robert
Jason Z Fu
Christina Patterson
David C. Plaut
Marlene Behrmann
author_facet Tina T. Liu
Michael C. Granovetter
Anne Margarette S. Maallo
Sophia Robert
Jason Z Fu
Christina Patterson
David C. Plaut
Marlene Behrmann
author_sort Tina T. Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The topographic organization of category-selective responses in human ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOTC) and its relationship to regions subserving language functions is remarkably uniform across individuals. This arrangement is thought to result from the clustering of neurons responding to similar inputs, constrained by intrinsic architecture and tuned by experience. We examine the malleability of this organization in individuals with unilateral resection of VOTC during childhood for the management of drug-resistant epilepsy. In cross-sectional and longitudinal functional imaging studies, we compare the topography and neural representations of 17 category-selective regions in individuals with a VOTC resection, a ‘control patient’ with a resection outside VOTC, and typically developing matched controls. We demonstrate both adherence to and deviation from the standard topography, particularly with respect to the hemispheric lateralization of category-selective regions, and uncover fine-grained competitive dynamics between word- and face-selectivity over time in the single, preserved VOTC. The findings elucidate the nature and extent of cortical plasticity and highlight the potential for remodeling of extrastriate architecture and function.
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spelling doaj-art-c9e194f69a3544db8a1723cba4b7cfd22025-08-20T04:02:55ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-08-018111810.1038/s42003-025-08554-2Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resectionTina T. Liu0Michael C. Granovetter1Anne Margarette S. Maallo2Sophia Robert3Jason Z Fu4Christina Patterson5David C. Plaut6Marlene Behrmann7Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon UniversityLaboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, NIHDepartment of Pediatrics, University of PittsburghDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon UniversityAbstract The topographic organization of category-selective responses in human ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOTC) and its relationship to regions subserving language functions is remarkably uniform across individuals. This arrangement is thought to result from the clustering of neurons responding to similar inputs, constrained by intrinsic architecture and tuned by experience. We examine the malleability of this organization in individuals with unilateral resection of VOTC during childhood for the management of drug-resistant epilepsy. In cross-sectional and longitudinal functional imaging studies, we compare the topography and neural representations of 17 category-selective regions in individuals with a VOTC resection, a ‘control patient’ with a resection outside VOTC, and typically developing matched controls. We demonstrate both adherence to and deviation from the standard topography, particularly with respect to the hemispheric lateralization of category-selective regions, and uncover fine-grained competitive dynamics between word- and face-selectivity over time in the single, preserved VOTC. The findings elucidate the nature and extent of cortical plasticity and highlight the potential for remodeling of extrastriate architecture and function.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08554-2
spellingShingle Tina T. Liu
Michael C. Granovetter
Anne Margarette S. Maallo
Sophia Robert
Jason Z Fu
Christina Patterson
David C. Plaut
Marlene Behrmann
Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection
Communications Biology
title Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection
title_full Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection
title_fullStr Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection
title_full_unstemmed Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection
title_short Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection
title_sort cross sectional and longitudinal changes in category selectivity in visual cortex following pediatric cortical resection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08554-2
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