Diffusion Tensor Imaging

The brain has more than 100billion neurons communicating via axons creating complex and vast neuro networks. Connectivity patterns between regions of the brain, or connectomes can be shown by Diffusion Tensor Imaging, DTI. DTI works with the environment established by MRI, by measuring the restricted diffusion of water in tissue (while in the established MRI magnetic field), producing neural tract images that trace the pathways connecting areas of the brain that are in communication. Slicing and staining brains for observation post-partum is not very helpful towards understanding how the brain works and interacts with itself on the whole. DTI is the newest and only minimally invasive technique that can show the tracts of the brain.

Following fiber bundles have been shown in images: [1] Corpus Callosum (CC) and its subdivisions, [2] Tapetum (TP), [3] Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus (ILF), [4] Uncinate Fasciculus (UNC), [5] Inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO), [6] Optic Pathways (OP), [7] Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLF), [8] Arcuate Fasciculus (AF), [9] Fornix (FX), [10] Cingulum (CG), [11] Anterior Thalamic Radiation (ATR), [(12] Superior Thalamic Radiation (STR), [13] Posterior Thalamic Radiation (PTR), [14] Corticospinal/Corticopontine Tract (CST/CPT), [15] Medial Lemniscus (ML), [16] Superior Cerebellar Peduncle (SCP), [17] Middle Cerebellar Peduncle (MCP), and [18] Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle (ICP). [From Advanced Digital Imaginc Solutions Laboratory] If you are interested or a particular image catches your eye, google scholar or image search for any of the fiber bundles listed.