Radial & Tangential Migrational Pathways Revealed by Diffusion Tractography

Emi Takahashi¹, Rebecca D. Folkerth², Albert M. Galaburda³, P. Ellen Grant¹

We applied high-angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) tractography to intact whole postmortem fetal human brains to explore the 3-dimensional regression of the radial and tangential migration pathways. Our results show the usefulness of HARDI tractography to image both radial and tangential migrational streams in fetal human brains, and suggest that regional regression of radial organization and regional emergence of fetal brain axonal connectivity proceed in general from postero-dorsal to antero-ventral with local variations related to the later appearance of gyri and sulci.