Multi-tensor tractography of the motor pathway at 3T: a volunteer study

Magn Reson Med Sci. 2011;10(1):59-63. doi: 10.2463/mrms.10.59.

Abstract

Conventional single-tensor tractography cannot depict the entire motor tract of the corticospinal tract because of fiber-crossing and other factors. Using a 3-tesla magnetic resonance (MR) unit, we compared single- and multi-tensor methods for the tract ratio of the 5 major components of the motor pathway, the lower extremity, trunk, hand, face, and tongue, in 5 healthy volunteers. Multi-tensor tractography is better than single-tensor tractography at 3T in depicting more fibers of non-trunk areas from the primary motor cortex.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Male
  • Pyramidal Tracts / anatomy & histology*