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Abstract #2941

Development of Cerebellar Connectivity in Human Fetal Brains Revealed by High Angular Resolution Diffusion Tractography

Emi Takahashi1, Emiko Hayashi1, Rebecca D. Folkerth2, Jeremy D. Schmahmann3, Patricia Ellen Grant4

1Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; 2Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; 3Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; 4Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States

Our objective in this study was to further apply HARDI tracography to the developing human cerebellum ranging from fetal to toddler stages, to outline in broad strokes the 3-dimensional development of white matter and local gray matter organization in the cerebellum. Our results show the usefulness of HARDI tractography to image developing cerebellar connectivity. We observed regression of radial organization in the cerebellar cortex and the emergence of regional specificity of cerebellar peduncles that were similar to our previous observations on the development of cerebral cortex. Our results demonstrated the potential for HARDI tractography to improve our understanding of neuronal circuitry and connectivity in both white and gray matter in the developing cerebellum.

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Keywords

abundant adult analyses anatomy angular another anterior arrow arrowheads arrows asterisks attached audience axial became blue body brain brains broad cell cerebellar cerebellum cerebral cerebrum children circuitry clearly coding coherent coil coincident color connectivity contained conveyed cortex cortical course crossing deep deeper density detected developing development diffusion dimensional distinct dominant dorsal emerged emergence emerging entering evident example fetal fiber fibers general gradually grant granular gray green hemisphere horizontal hospital human identified improve improved inconsistent inferior insight intermediate internal irregular knowledge laminae layer local longer mainly major many medial medical middle molecular noise nuclei nucleus optimized organization outcomes outline parallel passing pathways peduncle peduncles post posterior potential projected radial ranging reach reached readily redrawn regional regression relationships relatively resolution revealed running sample samples scanned school short significantly spatial specificity specimen specimens stages started strokes summary superficial superior surface system tangential target took tracks tracts understanding usefulness ventral white whole women yellow zone