A model for noise effects on fibre tract trajectories in diffusion tensor imaging: theory and simulations

In vivo diffusion tensor data obtained with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) can be used to estimate fibre tract trajectories in white matter in the brain. Such data can, for example, be used to visualize and study the connectivity and continuity of neural pathways in the central and peripheral nervous systems. This paper discusses a toy model which is used to assess limitations on the reliability of computed trajectories imposed by MRI noise. The analysis is based on a two-dimensional random walk model for which a very good approximate solution is available. The suggested theoretical approach to analyse this model is shown to be in excellent agreement with simulations.

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