The global structural connectivity of the brain, the human connectome, is now accessible at millimeter scale with the use of MRI. In this paper, we describe an approach to map the connectome by constructing normalized whole-brain structural connection matrices derived from diffusion MRI tractography at 5 different scales. Using a template-based approach to match cortical landmarks of different subjects, we propose a robust method that allows a) the selection of identical cortical Regions Of Interest of desired size and location in different subjects with identification of the associated fiber tracts and computation of related connection parameters b) straightforward construction and interpretation of anatomically organized whole-brain connection matrices and c) statistical intersubject comparison of brain connectivity at various scales. The fully automated post-processing steps necessary to build such matrices are detailed in this paper. Extensive validation tests are performed to assess the reproducibility of the method in a group of 5 healthy subjects and its reliability is as well considerably discussed in a group of 20 healthy subjects.
Dimitri Nestor Alice Van De Ville, Elvira Pirondini, Cyprien Alban Félicien Rivier
Dimitri Nestor Alice Van De Ville, Friedhelm Christoph Hummel, Gabriel Girard, Takuya Morishita, Elena Beanato, Lisa Aïcha Mireille Julie Fleury, Maximilian Jonas Wessel, Philipp Johannes Koch, Philip Egger, Andéol Geoffroy Cadic-Melchior
Friedhelm Christoph Hummel, Takuya Morishita, Manon Chloé Durand-Ruel, Chang-Hyun Park, Maeva Moyne