Computational Modeling of White Matter with Axon Connectivity

In the brain, white matter is embedded with innumerable axon tracts that provide connectivity and functionality. It has recently become evident that many neurological disorders and diseases are related to abnormal white matter connectivity. However, the fundamental understanding of axon tracts physical influence on the brain tissue is still superficial. To address this issue, we built a computational model to explicitly simulate axon tracts throughout the process of cortical folding. We believe the axon tension could serve as a slight perturbation, triggering global surface instability in the subcritical state. Our preliminary results support our hypothesis, showing that axon tension plays a vital role during the cortical folding process. In the future, we aim to fuse the computational model with experimental data from diffusion MRI. Our ultimate goal is to integrate a high-fidelity white matter simulation platform for helping the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disabilities.