title: Topographic organization of motor fibre tracts in the human brain: findings in multiple locations using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor tractography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the hand and foot fibre tracts of the corticospinal tract (CST), and to evaluate the relative locations, angles, and distances of two fibre tracts using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve healthy subjects were enrolled. The regions of interests (ROIs) were drawn in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activation areas and pons in each subject for fibre tracking. We evaluated fibre tract distributions using distances and angles between two fibre tracts starting from the location of a hand fibre tract in multiple brain regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measured angles and distances were 96.43-150°/2.69-9.93 mm (upper CR), 91.86-180°/1.63-7.42 mm (lower CR), 54.47-75°/0.75-4.45 mm (PLIC), and 3.65-90°/0.11-2.36 mm (pons), respectively. The distributions between CR and other sections, such as PLIC and pons, were statistically significant (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the upper and lower CR\ or between the PLIC and pons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that the somatotopic arrangement of the hand fibre tract was located at the anterolateral portion in CR and at the anteromedial portion in PLIC and pons, based on the foot fibre. Our methods and results seem to be helpful in motor control neurological research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • We evaluated somatotopic arrangement of CST at multiple anatomical locations. • Somatotopic arrangements and fibre tract distributions were evaluated based on hand fibre location. • Relative angles, locations, and distances between two fibres vary according to their anatomical locations.
authors.affiliation: Division of MR Research, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of MR Research, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Do-Wan
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Science, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Heungup, Wonju, Gangwondo, Rep. of Korea, 220-710. bshan@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Bong-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Corona radiata; Diffusion tensor tractography; Internal capsule; Pons; Somatotopic arrangement