tractography
Pronunciation: track-TOG-rah-fee
Neuroimaging technique that maps white matter fiber pathways in the brain.
Full Definition
Tractography is a neuroimaging analysis technique that reconstructs and visualizes white matter fiber pathways in the brain using diffusion-weighted imaging data. The method tracks the direction of water diffusion along neural fibers to map structural connectivity between brain regions. Tractography algorithms can be deterministic (following a single pathway) or probabilistic (generating multiple possible pathways). The technique is essential for studying brain connectivity, surgical planning, and understanding neurological disorders that affect white matter integrity.
Usage
Usage note: Not hyphenated; distinct from general fiber tracking in non-neural contexts.
In Context
- "Probabilistic tractography was performed to map the corticospinal tract." — Clinical research protocol
- "The tractography analysis revealed reduced fiber integrity in the corpus callosum." — Diagnostic report