Distributed anatomical brain connectivity derived from diffusion tensor imaging

Abstract

A method is presented for determining likely paths of anatomical connection between regions of the brain using MR diffusion tensor information. Level set theory, applied using fast marching methods, is used to generate 3-D time of arrival maps, from which connection paths between brain regions may be identified. The method is demonstrated in the normal brain and it is shown that major white matter tracts may be elucidated and that multiple connections and tract branching are allowed. Maps of the likelihood of connection between brain regions are also determined. Two metrics are described for estimating the (informal) likelihood of connection between regions.