The Emma Neuroscience Group is developing a pipeline for multimodal advanced MRI techniques to provide a comprehensive assessment of brain structure and functioning. With assessments of volumes, white matter integrity, structural and functional connectivitty and neurometabolites, the pipeline provides a framework for deep phenotyping of brain development and the impact of disease.
Brain volumes
Using high-resolution structural scans (T1), we determine volumes of grey matter, white matter, subcortical structures, large-scale brain networks as determined in the Yeo 7 networks atlas and brain regions as determined by the AAL atlas.
White matter integrity
Based on diffusion-weighted scans in combination with the diffusion tensor model, we probe microstructure of the white matter to explore wihte matter integrity throughout the brain and in specific white matter bundles as determined in the JHU atlas or as reconstructed at the individual level by probabilistic tractography (FSL XTract).
Structural connectivity
Based on the diffusion tensor model in combination with probabilistic fiber-tracking, we determine structural connectivity of the brain at the level of large-scale brain networks (Yeo 7 networks atlas) as well as more local brain regions (AAL atlas). Graph theory is applied to determine global and local organisation of the structural brain network.
Functional connectivity
Using resting-state functional scans and correlations in activity between brain regions, we determine functional connectfunctional connectivity of the brain at the level of large-scale brain networks (Yeo 7 networks atlas) as well as more local brain regions (AAL atlas). Graph theory is applied to determine global and local organisation of the functional brain network.
Neurometabolites
Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy scans in combination with LC Model, we determine neurometabolite concentrations in a pre-determined region of interest (e.g. corpus callosum).
