Functional-anatomical validation and individual variation of diffusion tractography-based segmentation of the human thalamus.

Johansen-Berg, H; Behrens, T; Sillery, E; Ciccarelli, O; Thompson, A; Smith, S; Matthews, P

Neuroscience & Neuroimaging Research Collection

Journal article

Functional-anatomical validation and individual variation of diffusion tractography-based segmentation of the human thalamus.

Abstract:: Parcellation of the human thalamus based on cortical connectivity information inferred from non-invasive diffusion-weighted images identifies sub-regions that we have proposed correspond to nuclei. Here we test the functional and anatomical validity of this proposal by comparing data from diffusion tractography, cytoarchitecture and functional imaging. We acquired diffusion imaging data in eleven healthy subjects and performed probabilistic tractography from voxels within the thalamus. Cortical connectivity information was used to divide the thalamus into sub-regions with highest probability of connectivity to distinct cortical areas. The relative volumes of these connectivity-defined sub-regions correlate well with volumetric predictions based on a histological atlas. Previously reported centres of functional activation within the thalamus during motor or executive tasks co-localize within atlas regions showing high probabilities of connection to motor or prefrontal cortices, respectively. This work provides a powerful validation of quantitative grey matter segmentation using diffusion tractography in humans. Co-registering thalamic sub-regions from 11 healthy individuals characterizes inter-individual variation in segmentation and results in a population-based atlas of the human thalamus that can be used to assign likely anatomical labels to thalamic locations in standard brain space. This provides a tool for specific localization of functional activations or lesions to putative thalamic nuclei.

Publication status:: Published

Actions

Email

Email this record

Send the bibliographic details of this record to your email address.

Your Email
Please enter the email address that the record information will be sent to.

-
Your message (optional)
Please add any additional information to be included within the email.
Share
Cite

Cite this record

APA Style

Johansen-Berg, H., Behrens, T., Sillery, E., Ciccarelli, O., Thompson, A., Smith, S., & Matthews, P. (2005). Functional-anatomical validation and individual variation of diffusion tractography-based segmentation of the human thalamus. Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), 15(1), 31–39.

MLA Style

Johansen-Berg, H, et al. “Functional-Anatomical Validation and Individual Variation of Diffusion Tractography-Based Segmentation of the Human Thalamus.” Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), vol. 15, no. 1, 2005, pp. 31–39.

Chicago Style

Johansen-Berg, H, T Behrens, E Sillery, et al. 2005. “Functional-Anatomical Validation and Individual Variation of Diffusion Tractography-Based Segmentation of the Human Thalamus.” Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) 15 (1): 31–39.
Print