Abnormal white matter integrity revealed by Tracts Constrained by Underlying Anatomy (TRACULA) in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Motivation: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a useful imaging technique to investigate white matter (WM) integrity and previous studies had revealed the disruption of WM related to neuropathology in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, few study had reliably located the defect at track level. Goal(s): To investigate the WM integrity in OCD on a whole brain level using newly developed tractography method. Approach: We used Tracts Constrained by Underlying Anatomy (TRACULA) software to investigate the WM integrity in OCD. Results: We found widespread disruption of WM integrity in OCD, and for the first time, we observed abnormality in bilateral acoustic radiation in OCD. Impact: Using the innovated fiber tractography methodology, we were able to detect abnormality in bilateral acoustic radiation in OCD, which had been suggested by previous study using resting state fMRI.