Human brain white matter atlas: Identification and assignment of common anatomical structures in superficial white matter
Source: NeuroImage
2008 Nov;43(3):447-457.
Author: Oishi, K, Zilles K, Amunts K, Faria A, Jiang H, Li X, Akhter K, Hua K, Woods R, Toga AW, Pike GB, Rosa-Neto P, Evans A, Zhang J, Huang H, Miller MI, van Zijl PC, Mazziotta J, Mori S PubMed ID: 18692144
Abstract:
Structural delineation and assignment are the fundamental steps in understanding the anatomy of the human
brain. The white matter has been structurally defined in the past only at its core regions (deep white matter).
However, the most peripheral white matter areas, which are interleaved between the cortex and the deep
white matter, have lacked clear anatomical definitions and parcellations. We used axonal fiber alignment
information from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to delineate the peripheral white matter, and investigated its
relationship with the cortex and the deep white matter. Using DTI data from 81 healthy subjects, we
identified nine common, blade-like anatomical regions, which were further parcellated into 21 subregions
based on the cortical anatomy. Four short association fiber tracts connecting adjacent gyri (U-fibers) were also
identified reproducibly among the healthy population.We anticipate that this atlas will be useful resource for
atlas-based white matter anatomical studies.