Diffusion tensor tractography quantification of the human corpus callosum fiber pathways across the lifespan

Several anatomical attributes of the human corpus callosum (CC) including the midsagittal cross-sectional area, thickness, and volume, have been used to assess CC integrity. We extended our previous lifespan quantitative diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study of the regional CC midsagittal areas to include the CC volumes obtained from DTI fiber tracking. In addition to the entire CC tracked subvolumes we nonnalized volume with respect to each subject's intracranial volume (ICV) and the corresponding DTI metrics of the different specialized fiber pathways of the CC on a cohort of 99 right-handed children and adults aged 7-59 years. Results indicated that the CC absolute volume, the normalized volume fraction, and the fractional anisotropy followed inverted U-shaped curves, while the radial diffusivities followed a U-shaped curve reflecting white matter progressive and regressive myelination dynamics that continue into young adulthood. Our study provides for the first time normative baseline macro- and microstructural age trajectories of the human CC subvolumes across the lifespan that can be helpful for normative behavioral and clinical studies. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved