| Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the perceptual, motor, and cognitive capacities in humans is of increasing importance for basic and clinical neurosciences. The explanatory power of current fMRI techniques could be greatly expanded, however, if the pattern of the neuronal connections between the active cortical areas could likewise be visualized. The connectivity between functionally distinct areas in human brain is unknown due to the limitations posed by the current post-mortem anatomical labeling techniques. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has previously been used to define large white-matter tracts based on well-known anatomical landmarks in the living human brain. This research will investigate whether DTI coupled with fMRI can be used to assess the neuronal connections between functionally defined human visual areas. The structural correlation between lower and higher visual areas are described. Also, the optimum acquisition parameters are presented. The methods developed in this research have the potential to lay foundation for in vivo neuroanatomy and the ability for non-invasive longitudinal studies of brain development. |
