Abstract:
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) allows noninvasive evaluation of microstructural changes in the brain tissue. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) are two main indices calculated from the DTI data that measure fiber and myelin integrity and bulk mobility of water molecules in the tissue, respectively. We have recently explored the potential of these biomarkers for the lateralization of epileptogenicity in the brains of the temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. To this end, we have used DTI data of nonepileptic subjects to estimate the hemispheric variation uncertainty (HVU) levels of MD in the hippocampus and FA in the posteroinferior cingulum and crus of fornix. We have then used DTI data of epileptic patients to determine whether asymmetry of MD in the hippocampi and FA in the posteroinferior cingula and the fornix crura correctly predicted laterality of the seizure onset. The results suggest that the proposed biomarkers can improve the decision-making process for surgical resection of the epileptogenic tissue. In this presentation, we will briefly present the basic concepts regarding the physics of DTI as well as its acquisition and analysis. We will then describe the brain structures that we have studied for their microstructural changes due to epileptogenicity. Next, we will explain our data analysis approaches and experimental results. At the end, we will present the conclusions of our work and directions for the future work.
Venue:
School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM),
Opposite the ARAJ, Artesh Highway, Tehran, Iran