Schad LR, Ende G. DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB 636: TP Z03: DTI tractography, brain network analysis and advanced translational. 01/2012-12/2015.
As a core project Z03 will give methodological support to those studies within the SFB, that use diffusion
tensor imaging (DTI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), including real-time fMRI, and
magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 3.0T as well as advanced imaging and MRS methods at 9.4T.
Methods to directly compare functional connectivity and spatiotemporal dynamics acquired with BOLD and
regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV)-weighted fMRI in anesthetized rats at the 9.4T scanner will be
established. Various MRS editing techniques will be optimized for glutamine, GABA, glutathione, and
NAAG detection. Another goal of project Z03 is to combine structural connection maps determined by DTI
tractography and/or diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) with brain network analysis of fMRI data to gain
insight into the patterning and dynamics of brain networks and to determine how structural connectivity
relates to functional and effective connectivity of the brain. Concepts from graph theory will be used to
analyze connection maps and brain network properties. These network properties such as clustering
coefficients, characteristic path length or global efficiency can then be quantified and translated to clinical
applications.