New perspectives on the sources of white matter DTI signal.
A minimalist numerical model of white matter is presented, the objective of which is to help provide a biological basis for improved diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis. Water diffuses, relaxes, and exchanges in three compartments-intracellular, extracellular, and myelin sheath. Exchange between compartments is defined so as to depend on the diffusion coefficients and the compartment sizes. Based on the model, it is proposed that an additive "baseline tensor" that correlates with intraaxonal water volume be included in the computation. Anisotropy and tortuosity calculated from such analysis may correspond better to tract ultrastructure than if calculated without the baseline. According to the model, reduced extracellular volume causes increased baseline and reduced apparent diffusion. Depending on the pulse sequence, reduced permeability can cause an increase in both the baseline and apparent diffusion.
Harvard Center for Neurodegeneration and Repair, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA. speled@bwh.harvard.edu
Sharon
S
Peled
D000465:Algorithms; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity