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Exploring Connectivity of the Brain’s White Matter with Dynamic Queries. Anthony Sherbondy, David Akers, Rachel Mackenzie, Robert Dougherty, and Brian Wandell. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, V11, No 4, July/August 2005. Presented by: Eugene (Austin) Stoudenmire
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Exploring Connectivity of the Brain’s White Matter with Dynamic Queries Anthony Sherbondy, David Akers, Rachel Mackenzie, Robert Dougherty, and Brian Wandell IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, V11, No 4, July/August 2005 Presented by: Eugene (Austin) Stoudenmire 14 Feb 2007
Problem • New technology emerged • Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) • White matter connections, i.e. fiber tracts, can now be measured • Need to take advantage of it • Requires better visualization
We Care • Better visualization would • Assist research • Interactive
Approach • Combine types of data • Anatomical – White – DTI • Functional – Gray – fMRI • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging • Precompute • Query Interface • Pictoral • Labeled • Ranges
DTI • Diffusion Tensor Imaging • New Technology • Measures white matter pathways • Estimates water molecule diffusion • Water diffuses lengthwise along axons • Diffusion direction nerve fiber orientation
One Method of DTI Visualization • MR Tractography • Traces principle direction of diffusion • Connects points into fiber tracts • Fiber tracts = pathways • Anatomical connections between endpoints of the pathways are implied • Therefore, implied white matter structure
These Pathways • Not individual nerves • Not Bundles • But something • Abstract, white matter route “possibilities”
fMRI • Functional Magnetic Res Imaging • Correlate activity • Suggests gray matter connections
The Combination • Take the MR Tractography data • Precompute paths, statistical properties • Interactive manipulation • Regions of interest – Box / Ellipsoid • Path properties – Length / Curvature • Combine with fMRI • Search for anatomical paths that might connect functionally-defined regions • Saves time over existing approaches
Acqusition DTI & fMRI
Subject • Neurologically Normal • Male • Human • 35
DTI • Eight 3-minute whole brain scans • Averaged • 38 axial slices • 2 x 2 x 3 mm voxels • 8-minute high res anat images • 1 x 1 x 1 mm voxel • Coregistered • DTI resampled to 2 mm
fMRI • 21-30 obliquely oriented slices • 2 x 2 x 3 mm voxel • Registered with anatomy • Mapped to cortical surface mesh
Fractional Anisotropy (FA) • Diffusion orientation ratio 0 = spherical = gray matter 0.5 = linear or planar ellipsoid 1 = very linear • Uses • Algorithm termination criteria • Queries • Navigational aid
Approaches • Typical • Interactively trace pathways • Authors’ • Precompute pathways • Over entire white matter • Then let software “prune”
Cortical Surface • Classified white matter • Semi-manually – neuroscientist • Marching-Cubes -> t-mesh • Smoothed • Kept both • 230,000 vertices
Precomputation • Statistical properties • Length • Avg FA • Avg Curvature • Tractography Algorithm
Path Rendering • Lines vs streamtubes (for speed) • Pathways – luminance offset • Groups of pathways – hue • User defined hue • Virtual staining • Queries modified – stains remain
Hardware/Software • Visualization C++ • ToolKit (VTK) • RAPID • Fast VOI / Path Intersection Comp • 80K-120K paths/sec (w/SGI RE) • Allowed 3-8 • 510MB for 26K paths @ 20KB/path • 160MB for cortical meshes
Volumes of Interest Surface-constrained
Algorithm Comparison STT – Streamlines Tracking Techniques Vs TEND – Tensor Deflection
Exploration of Connections Between Functional Areas
Evaluation • Types of functions • Validation of known pathways • Hypothesis generation • Time to explore – 10 minutes for significant exploration • Speed – Interactive rates • Interface – Interactive queries