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Imaging brain microstructure with diffusion MRI: practicality and applications
Author(s) -
Alexander Daniel C.,
Dyrby Tim B.,
Nilsson Markus,
Zhang Hui
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nmr in biomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.278
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1099-1492
pISSN - 0952-3480
DOI - 10.1002/nbm.3841
Subject(s) - diffusion mri , computer science , focus (optics) , voxel , pipeline (software) , neuroimaging , magnetic resonance imaging , diffusion , artificial intelligence , microstructure , domain (mathematical analysis) , data science , neuroscience , materials science , medicine , psychology , physics , radiology , mathematics , mathematical analysis , optics , metallurgy , programming language , thermodynamics
This article gives an overview of microstructure imaging of the brain with diffusion MRI and reviews the state of the art. The microstructure‐imaging paradigm aims to estimate and map microscopic properties of tissue using a model that links these properties to the voxel scale MR signal. Imaging techniques of this type are just starting to make the transition from the technical research domain to wide application in biomedical studies. We focus here on the practicalities of both implementing such techniques and using them in applications. Specifically, the article summarizes the relevant aspects of brain microanatomy and the range of diffusion‐weighted MR measurements that provide sensitivity to them. It then reviews the evolution of mathematical and computational models that relate the diffusion MR signal to brain tissue microstructure, as well as the expanding areas of application. Next we focus on practicalities of designing a working microstructure imaging technique: model selection, experiment design, parameter estimation, validation, and the pipeline of development of this class of technique. The article concludes with some future perspectives on opportunities in this topic and expectations on how the field will evolve in the short‐to‐medium term.