Development of Cerebellar Connectivity in Fetal Human Brains Revealed by Diffusion Tractography

Emi Takahashi¹, Emiko Hayashi¹, Hannah Kinney¹, Rebecca D Folkerth², P. Ellen Grant¹

Our understanding of the human cerebellum development has not advanced at the same level as our understanding of the cerebrum development, because it is especially difficult to image 3-dimensional cerebellar connectivity using diffusion tractography. Here, we applied high-angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) tractography to intact postmortem fetal cerebellums to explore the development of cerebellum pathways. Our results show the usefulness of HARDI tractography to image developing cerebellar connectivity. We observed regression of radial organization in the cerebellar cortex and the emergence of regional specificity of cerebellar peduncles that were similar to our previous observations on the development of cerebral cortex.