MRI Investigation of Optic Radiations in Human Brain: New Findings and Technical Considerations

Abstract

Optic Radiations (ORs) are two white matter fiber bundles allowing direct connection between homolateral Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) and visual cortex. From the anatomical point of view, ORs are conventionally divided in three different portions, namely anterior, middle and posterior; the Meyer’s loop represents the anterior portion, and it has been shown to be a bundle with a very high variability in human brain.1-3 The latter aspect has to be taken into account when studying ORs in clinical and surgical contexts. Indeed, ORs represent eloquent white matter bundles often reconstructed by means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) based approaches in order to assess their involvement by pathological conditions as well as to prevent post-surgical damages. Both these conditions can compromise visual function by causing, for instance, visual field deficits.