Tractography
Tractography
Tractography (pronounced: trak-TAH-gra-fee) is a method used in neuroimaging to visually represent neural tracts using data collected by diffusion MRI. It uses special techniques of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to map the pathways of white matter in the brain.
Etymology
The term "tractography" is derived from the Latin word "tractus" meaning "drawn out" and the Greek word "graphy" meaning "writing". It refers to the process of drawing out the pathways of the brain's white matter.
Method
Tractography is performed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a type of MRI that measures the diffusion of water molecules in the brain. The direction of diffusion can give clues about the structure of the brain's white matter. Tractography algorithms use this information to construct 3D representations of the neural tracts.
Applications
Tractography has a wide range of applications in both clinical and research settings. It is used in the study of various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. It can also be used in pre-surgical planning to avoid damage to important white matter tracts during brain surgery.
Related Terms
- Neuroimaging: The use of various techniques to directly or indirectly image the structure, function, or pharmacology of the nervous system.
- Diffusion MRI: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method that produces in vivo images of biological tissues weighted with the local microstructural characteristics of water diffusion.
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI): A MRI-based neuroimaging technique which makes it possible to estimate the location, orientation, and anisotropy of the brain's white matter tracts.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tractography
- Wikipedia's article - Tractography
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