Tractography: Where Do We Go from Here?

Saad Jbabdi; Heidi Johansen-Berg

doi:10.1089/brain.2011.0033

journal article Jun 01, 2011

Tractography: Where Do We Go from Here?

Saad Jbabdi

Heidi Johansen-Berg

Brain Connectivity Vol. 1 No. 3 pp. 169-183 · SAGE Publications

View at Publisher Save 10.1089/brain.2011.0033

Abstract

Diffusion tractography offers enormous potential for the study of human brain anatomy. However, as a method to study brain connectivity, tractography suffers from limitations, as it is indirect, inaccurate, and difficult to quantify. Despite these limitations, appropriate use of tractography can be a powerful means to address certain questions. In addition, while some of tractography's limitations are fundamental, others could be alleviated by methodological and technological advances. This article provides an overview of diffusion magnetic resonance tractography methods with a focus on how future advances might address challenges in measuring brain connectivity. Parts of this review are somewhat provocative, in the hope that they may trigger discussions possibly lacking in a field where the apparent simplicity of the methods (compared to their functional magnetic resonance imaging counterparts) can hide some fundamental issues that ultimately hinder the interpretation of findings, and cast doubt as to what tractography can really teach us about human brain anatomy.

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Details

Published: Jun 01, 2011
Vol/Issue: 1(3)
Pages: 169-183
License: View

Authors

University of Oxford

University of Oxford

Cite This Article

Saad Jbabdi, Heidi Johansen-Berg (2011). Tractography: Where Do We Go from Here?. Brain Connectivity, 1(3), 169-183. https://doi.org/10.1089/brain.2011.0033

Tractography: Where Do We Go from Here?

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