Rethinking tractography and neuroanatomy: does image resolution hold the key?

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroanatomy
• Diffusion MRI

Background:

• The brain's structural connectome exhibits complexity across multiple length scales.
• Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is commonly used for whole-brain tractography but often with limited spatial resolution.
• The impact of this 'one size fits all' resolution on tractography and diffusion quantification is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of spatial resolution in dMRI on tractography and diffusion quantification.
• To define the structural image resolution limit for dMRI.
• To determine if current dMRI acquisition strategies are adequate for resolving anatomical structures.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual discussion of image resolution in the context of dMRI.
• Definition of the structural image resolution limit.
• Analysis of how resolution affects the reliability of resolving anatomical structures.

Main Results:

• The spatial resolution of dMRI significantly influences the accuracy of tractography and diffusion quantification.
• A clear definition for the structural image resolution limit was established.
• The study highlights potential limitations of current whole-brain dMRI acquisition protocols.

Conclusions:

• The 'one size fits all' approach in dMRI acquisition may not be optimal for all tractography and quantification needs.
• Understanding and defining the structural image resolution limit is crucial for interpreting dMRI data.
• Future dMRI acquisition strategies may need to consider tailored resolutions for specific anatomical structures.