The brain is composed of a complex web of networks but we have yet to map the structural connections of the human brain in detail. Diffusion MR imaging is a high‐throughput method that relies on the principle of diffusion to reconstruct tracts (ie, pathways) across the brain. Although diffusion MR tractography is an exciting method to explore the structural connectivity of the brain in development and across species, the tractography has at times led to questionable interpretations. There are at present few if any alternative methods to trace structural pathways in the human brain. Given these limitations and the potential of diffusion MR imaging to map the human connectome, it is imperative that we develop new approaches to validate neuroimaging techniques. I discuss our recent studies integrating neuroimaging with transcriptional and anatomical variation across humans and other species over the course of development and in adulthood. Developing a novel framework to harness the potential of diffusion MR tractography provides new and exciting opportunities to study the evolution of developmental mechanisms generating variation in connections and bridge the gap between model systems to humans.

中文翻译：

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关闭从转录到结构连接组的差距可以加强对人脑连接的研究。

大脑由复杂的网络组成，但我们尚未详细绘制出人脑的结构连接图。弥散 MR 成像是一种高通量方法，它依赖于弥散原理来重建穿过大脑的区域（即通路）。尽管扩散 MR 纤维束成像是一种探索大脑在发育过程中和跨物种结构连通性的令人兴奋的方法，但纤维束成像有时会导致有问题的解释。目前几乎没有任何替代方法来追踪人类大脑中的结构通路。鉴于这些限制和扩散 MR 成像绘制人体连接组的潜力，我们必须开发新方法来验证神经成像技术。我讨论了我们最近的研究，将神经影像学与人类和其他物种在发育过程和成年期的转录和解剖变异相结合。开发一个新的框架来利用扩散 MR 纤维束成像的潜力，为研究产生连接变化的发育机制的演变提供了新的和令人兴奋的机会，并弥合了模型系统与人类之间的差距。