Diffusion MRI of Human Brain: Key Points and Innovations

Abstract

MRI-based investigations represent, to date, very powerful approaches for the study of the brain. One set of tools, provided by diffusion MRI, allows the non-invasive analysis of structural aspects of gray and white matter, by analyzing how water molecules diffuse within the brain. Although number of clinical studies employing diffusion MRI has grown in last years, some aspects still result poorly known or poorly understood by unfamiliar researchers and clinicians, due to their technical complexity. The main goal of the present work is to resume the main landmarks of diffusion MRI investigation and to show the current state as well as future perspectives of related methodologies.