Imaging cortical association tracts in the human brain using diffusion‐tensor‐based axonal tracking

TLDR

Diffusion‑tensor fiber tracking was used to identify and reproducibly map the cores of major long‑association fibers (ATR, PTR, UNC, SLF, ILF, IFO) and to assess their interindividual variability in Talairach space via probabilistic mapping. The tractography results qualitatively matched known anatomy and revealed decreased connectivity in a patient with X‑linked adrenoleukodystrophy. © 2002 Wiley‑Liss, Inc.; published in Magn Reson Med 47:215–223.

Abstract

Abstract Diffusion‐tensor fiber tracking was used to identify the cores of several long‐association fibers, including the anterior (ATR) and posterior (PTR) thalamic radiations, and the uncinate (UNC), superior longitudinal (SLF), inferior longitudinal (ILF), and inferior fronto‐occipital (IFO) fasciculi. Tracking results were compared to existing anatomical knowledge, and showed good qualitative agreement. Guidelines were developed to reproducibly track these fibers in vivo. The interindividual variability of these reconstructions was assessed in a common spatial reference frame (Talairach space) using probabilistic mapping. As a first illustration of this technical capability, a reduction in brain connectivity in a patient with a childhood neurodegenerative disease (X‐linked adrenoleukodystrophy) was demonstrated. Magn Reson Med 47:215–223, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.