Macroscopic orientation component analysis of brain white matter and thalamus based on diffusion tensor imaging

Setsu Wakana, Lidia M. Nagae-Poetscher, Hangyi Jiang, Peter Van Zijl, Xavier Golay, Susumu Mori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can delineate white matter architecture based on fiber orientation. The purpose of this paper is to use the orientation information contained in DTI to study axonal organization of the brain both macroscopically and quantitatively. After performing gray/white matter segmentation using a fractional anisotropy threshold, the white matter can be further decomposed into components composed of tracts oriented along three orthogonal anatomic axes (right-left, superior-inferior, and anterior-posterior). For each component, the volume and MR parameters were quantified. To characterize the axonal architecture of the brain, this technique was applied to the entire brain using a Talairach-based brain parcellation method and to the thalamus by manual segmentation. Reproducibility of this analysis tool was examined by repeating the measurements in the same subject, and individual differences were appreciated from the data acquired in 11 healthy volunteers. Based on the results from these preliminary data sets, this new analysis technique is expected to be an effective tool for macroscopic white matter characterization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)649-657
Number of pages9
JournalMagnetic resonance in medicine
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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