title: An exploratory analysis linking neuropsychological testing to quantification of tractography using High Definition Fiber Tracking (HDFT) in military TBI.
abstract: To realize the potential value of tractography in traumatic brain injury (TBI), we must identify metrics that provide meaningful information about functional outcomes. The current study explores quantitative metrics describing the spatial properties of tractography from advanced diffusion imaging (High Definition Fiber Tracking, HDFT). In a small number of right-handed males from military TBI (N = 7) and civilian control (N = 6) samples, both tract homologue symmetry and tract spread (proportion of brain mask voxels contacted) differed for several tracts among civilian controls and extreme groups in the TBI sample (high scorers and low scorers) for verbal recall, serial reaction time, processing speed index, and trail-making. Notably, proportion of voxels contacted in the arcuate fasciculus distinguished high and low performers on the CVLT-II and PSI, potentially reflecting linguistic task demands, and GFA in the left corticospinal tract distinguished high and low performers in PSI and Trail Making Test Part A, potentially reflecting right hand motor response demands. The results suggest that, for advanced diffusion imaging, spatial properties of tractography may add analytic value to measures of tract anisotropy.
authors.affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. presson@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Presson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Sue R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Beers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wagener
authors.affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Eman
authors.affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.|Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krishnaswamy
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penderville
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Borrasso
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benso
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puccio
authors.affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fissell
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.|Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.|Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.|Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.|Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diffusion imaging; High definition fiber tracking; Military TBI; Traumatic brain injury