Does diffusion MRI tell us anything about the white matter? An overview of methods and pitfalls

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI)
• Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

• Interpreting diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) results in clinical neuroimaging is challenging due to complex analysis pipelines and non-specific diffusion measurements.
• Clinical researchers often question the utility of dMRI for understanding white matter integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a critical review of dMRI methods and measures commonly used in clinical neuroimaging research.
• To clarify the interpretation of dMRI results for researchers, particularly regarding white matter.
• To highlight common pitfalls in dMRI analysis and interpretation.

Main Methods:

• Review of commonly employed dMRI analysis methods.
• Examination of frequently reported dMRI measures.
• Critical assessment of interpretation challenges and potential pitfalls.

Main Results:

• Identification of key challenges in understanding and interpreting complex dMRI analysis pipelines.
• Discussion of the non-specific nature of many diffusion measurements and its impact on interpretation.
• Detailed description of common pitfalls associated with dMRI methods and measures.

Conclusions:

• dMRI offers valuable insights into white matter, but careful interpretation is crucial.
• Understanding common pitfalls in dMRI analysis is essential for reliable clinical neuroimaging research.
• This review aims to enhance researchers' confidence and competence in utilizing dMRI for white matter investigations.