Comparative analysis of diffusion MRI data to study brain connectivity

COEX 

Although human cognition has many aspects that can be considered unique, we see the roots of our behaviours in our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. A comparative approach mapping the shared and distinct aspects of brain organisation across species can therefore help us understand the neural machinery that supports brain function. New developments in comparative neuroimaging have paved the way to study a large number of species with great anatomical detail. In particular, diffusion MRI-based reconstruction of brain connections, i.e. tractography, has become a powerful method for comparative neuroanatomy. We know that the general template, or blueprint, of long-range brain connections is shared across mammals. We can therefore reconstruct the path of homologous white matter tracts in different species allowing for a species comparison. In this lecture, I will introduce the concept behind and tools for comparative analysis of diffusion MRI data. The students will get the opportunity to see software demonstrations and will learn about the limitations of the technique. As an example system, I will review new studies on the neurobiology of language and will discuss how comparative analysis approaches have enhanced our understanding of the language connectome. In this context I will also introduce openly accessible databases, for example the Oxford’s Digital Brain Bank and the PRIMatE Data Exchange (PRIME-DE) platform. Furthermore, I will discuss the opportunities that such a comparative framework offers for various research topics, such as evolutionary neuroscience and translational work with animal models.