Optic radiation structure and anatomy in the normally developing brain determined using diffusion MRI and tractography

Dayan, M., Munoz, M. , Jentschke, S., Chadwick, M. J., Cooper, J. M., Riney, K., Vargha-Khadem, F. and Clark, C. A. (2015) Optic radiation structure and anatomy in the normally developing brain determined using diffusion MRI and tractography. Brain Structure and Function, 220(1), pp. 291-306. (doi: 10.1007/s00429-013-0655-y) (PMID:24170375) (PMCID:PMC4286633)

Abstract

The optic radiation (OR) is a component of the visual system known to be myelin mature very early in life. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and its unique ability to reconstruct the OR in vivo were used to study structural maturation through analysis of DTI metrics in a cohort of 90 children aged 5–18 years. As the OR is at risk of damage during epilepsy surgery, we measured its position relative to characteristic anatomical landmarks. Anatomical distances, DTI metrics and volume of the OR were investigated for age, gender and hemisphere effects. We observed changes in DTI metrics with age comparable to known trajectories in other white matter tracts. Left lateralization of DTI metrics was observed that showed a gender effect in lateralization. Sexual dimorphism of DTI metrics in the right hemisphere was also found. With respect to OR dimensions, volume was shown to be right lateralised and sexual dimorphism demonstrated for the extent of the left OR. The anatomical results presented for the OR have potentially important applications for neurosurgical planning.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Munoz, Dr Monica
• Authors: Dayan, M., Munoz, M., Jentschke, S., Chadwick, M. J., Cooper, J. M., Riney, K., Vargha-Khadem, F., and Clark, C. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Brain Structure and Function
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1863-2653
• ISSN (Online): 1863-2661
• Published Online: 30 October 2013
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Brain Structure and Function 220(1):291-306
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License