MRI and non-MRI quantifiable neuroanatomical and functional parameters are useful for tractography

Abstract

Tractography provides a powerful framework to reconstruct white matter pathways from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) but remains challenged by its inherent ambiguity and lack of direct biological specificity. This short communication summarizes the key points of a debate held at the 2024 Tract-Anat Retreat on the utility of MRI and non-MRI quantifiable neuroanatomical and functional parameters for improving tractography. During the discussion, concerns were raised about the availability of histological properties only on post-mortem tissues, the disparity in scale between MRI and other modalities and the additional costs (both in time and money) of such additional parameters. However, we identified several areas that enhance the anatomical accuracy of tractography including the potential value of histological priors, functional imaging constraints, and microstructural metrics in guiding or validating tract reconstructions. These perspectives underscore the need for multimodal frameworks that bridge imaging and biology, enabling tractography towards a more anatomically grounded representation of white matter organization.