Interactive computation and visualization of structural connectomes in real-time

Abstract

Structural networks contain high dimensional data that raise huge computational and visualization problems, especially when attempting to characterise them using graph theory. As a result, it can be non-intuitive to grasp the contribution of each edge within a graph, both at a local and global scale. Here, we introduce a new platform that enables tractography-based networks to be explored in a highly interactive real-time fashion. The framework allows one to interactively tune graph-related parameters on the fly, as opposed to conventional visualization softwares that rely on pre-computed connectivity matrices. From a neurosurgical perspective, the method also provides enhanced understanding regarding the potential removal of a specific node or transection of an edge from the network, allowing surgeons and clinicians to discern the value of each node.