White matter tract visualization using properties of termination coordinate eigenmaps.

We present a fast and informative technique for determining colors that differentiate white matter pathways generated by deterministic diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) based on streamline termination coordinate (TC) locations in native space. In particular, terminations coordinates are mapped to a standard stereotactic space and colors are generated using a fast eigenmapping approach designed to provide a single eigenvector representing both TCs. This eigenvector is then colored by mapping the vector x-coordinate to the red channel, the y-coordinate to the green channel, and the z-coordinate to the blue channel. This visualization technique generates a TC color (TCC) map and represents a novel technique for white matter anatomical visualization that does not require explicit white matter pathway segmentation. TCC maps of the pons, cerebral peduncle, thalamus, arcuate fasciculus, and corpus callosum are demonstrated and shown to correspond well with known white matter anatomy. Furthermore, TCC maps are consistent between subjects and may be modulated by the eigenvalue of the TCC map or streamline length to provide additional visual contrast. Finally, these color maps may be generated from deterministic or probabilistic tractography data that are computed from either diffusion tensor or high angular resolution diffusion-weighted MRI acquisitions. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.