Abstract #2737

Kang N, Zhang J, Carlson E, Gembris D, Mnner R, Mang S

We present a diffusion simulation based tracking (DST) algorithm for the investigation of neuronal connectivity using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI). This front propagating tracking approach is based on the successive simulation of diffusion, governed by the rank-n diffusion tensors, derived from DTI measurements. The use of backtracking allows the reconstruction of outward branching of the tracts. Synthetic and real data examples are used to illustrate the ability of DST to track neuronal fiber pathways non-invasively. Using the whole tensor data, including magnitude and orientation information, makes the approach more robust in the presence of noise.