Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neuroanatomy

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has transformed the study of neuroanatomy by providing non-invasive, high-resolution images of the living brain’s structure and function. By exploiting the magnetic properties of hydrogen nuclei in water molecules, MRI generates detailed contrast between grey matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid, enabling precise anatomical mapping. Advanced techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) probe microstructural organisation by tracking the directional movement of water, revealing the trajectories of fibre bundles. Functional MRI (fMRI) measures changes in blood oxygenation linked to neural activity, delineating networks that underlie cognition and behaviour. Together, these modalities support the creation of volumetric atlases, enable population-based comparisons and offer critical insights into normal development, comparative neuroanatomy in animal models and the pathophysiology of neurological disorders. Recent technological advances—ranging from ultra-high-field scanners to machine-learning-driven segmentation—have further enhanced spatial resolution, reduced artefacts and automated the extraction of anatomical features, cementing MRI as an indispensable tool in the global effort to map the brain’s organisation and its variations across species and conditions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have delivered comprehensive cortical atlases for the domestic canine brain, establishing a common spatial framework for both structural and functional analyses. One investigation constructed a population-averaged template from thirty neurologically normal dogs, accompanied by tissue‐segmentation maps and detailed parcellation of 234 cortical and subcortical regions. This resource standardises processing pipelines, improving reproducibility in canine MRI research and facilitating cross-study comparisons of behaviourally relevant networks. Another report applied resting-state fMRI in awake, unrestrained dogs, using group-level independent component analysis to identify multiple distributed networks—including sensorimotor, auditory, cerebellar and default-mode–like assemblies. The demonstration of coherent antero-posterior connectivity akin to that seen in primates underscores the dog’s value as a translational model for large-scale functional organisation.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neuroanatomy publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in magnetic resonance imaging in neuroanatomy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A non-invasive method that uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to generate detailed images of internal structures based on hydrogen atom signals.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI): An MRI technique that measures the directional diffusion of water molecules to infer the orientation and integrity of white matter fibre tracts.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): A modality that detects changes in blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) contrast as an indirect measure of neural activity.

Tractography: A computational method that reconstructs three-dimensional trajectories of white matter fibres by following diffusion directions in DTI data.

Stereotaxic atlas: A spatial reference system that standardises anatomical coordinates across individual brains, facilitating region-of-interest analyses and cross-study alignment.

References

1. Stereotactic Cortical Atlas of the Domestic Canine Brain. Scientific Reports (2020).
2. Resting-state fMRI data of awake dogs (Canis familiaris) via group-level independent component analysis reveal multiple, spatially distributed resting-state networks. Scientific Reports (2019).
3. In vivo Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Tractography of the Sheep Brain: An Atlas of the Ovine White Matter Fiber Bundles. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2019).
4. A detailed canine brain label map for neuroimaging analysis. Biologia Futura (2019).
5. Functional and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging of the sheep brain. BMC Veterinary Research (2015).