Tracking neuronal fiber pathways in the living human brain

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.18.10422
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:38:21Z
• Authors: Thomas E. Conturo; Nicolas F. Lori; Thomas S. Cull; Erbil Akbudak; Abraham Z. Snyder; Joshua S. Shimony; Robert C. McKinstry; Harold Burton; Marcus E. Raichle
• Keywords: Human brain; Retinotopy; Tracking (education)

Functional imaging with positron emission tomography and functional MRI has revolutionized studies of the human brain. Understanding organization brain systems, especially those used for cognition, remains limited, however, because no methods currently exist noninvasive tracking neuronal connections between regions [Crick, F. & Jones, E. (1993) Nature (London) 361, 109–110]. Detailed connectivities have been studied in animals through invasive tracer techniques, but these cannot be done humans, animal results always extrapolated to systems. We developed fiber use living utilizing unique ability characterize water diffusion. reconstructed trajectories throughout by direction fastest diffusion (the direction) from a grid seed points, then selected tracks that join anatomically or functionally (functional MRI) defined regions. demonstrate bundles variety white matter classes examples corpus callosum, geniculo-calcarine, subcortical association pathways. Tracks covered long distances, navigated divergences tight curves, manifested topological separations geniculo-calcarine tract consistent retinotopy humans. Additionally, previously undescribed topologies were revealed other This approach enhances power modern enabling study among individual subjects.