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Introducing axonal myelination in connectomics: A preliminary analysis of g-ratio distribution in healthy subjects.
- Source :
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NeuroImage . Nov2018, Vol. 182, p351-359. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
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Abstract
- Abstract Microstructural imaging and connectomics are two research areas that hold great potential for investigating brain structure and function. Combining these two approaches can lead to a better and more complete characterization of the brain as a network. The aim of this work is characterizing the connectome from a novel perspective using the myelination measure given by the g-ratio. The g-ratio is the ratio of the inner to the outer diameters of a myelinated axon, whose aggregated value can now be estimated in vivo using MRI. In two different datasets of healthy subjects, we reconstructed the structural connectome and then used the g-ratio estimated from diffusion and magnetization transfer data to characterize the network structure. Significant characteristics of g-ratio weighted graphs emerged. First, the g-ratio distribution across the edges of the graph did not show the power-law distribution observed using the number of streamlines as a weight. Second, connections involving regions related to motor and sensory functions were the highest in myelin content. We also observed significant differences in terms of the hub structure and the rich-club organization suggesting that connections involving hub regions present higher myelination than peripheral connections. Taken together, these findings offer a characterization of g-ratio distribution across the connectome in healthy subjects and lay the foundations for further investigating plasticity and pathology using a similar approach. Highlights • We integrated myelination into the structural connectome using the g-ratio. • The average g-ratio and the number of streamlines follow different patterns. • A myelin blueprint can be observed looking at the hub structure. • The anatomical organization follows patterns consistent with existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10538119
- Volume :
- 182
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- NeuroImage
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 132149612
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.09.018