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Brain dissection photogrammetry: a tool for studying human white matter connections integrating ex vivo and in vivo multimodal datasets

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Vavassori

    (“S. Chiara” University-Hospital
    University of Trento)

  • François Rheault

    (Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke
    France - Université de Sherbrooke)

  • Erica Nocerino

    (University of Sassari)

  • Luciano Annicchiarico

    (“S. Chiara” University-Hospital)

  • Francesco Corsini

    (“S. Chiara” University-Hospital)

  • Luca Zigiotto

    (“S. Chiara” University-Hospital
    “S. Chiara” University-Hospital)

  • Alessandro Benedictis

    (Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS)

  • Mattia Barbareschi

    (“S. Chiara” University-Hospital)

  • Umberto Rozzanigo

    (“S. Chiara” University-Hospital)

  • Paolo Avesani

    (Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK))

  • Silvio Sarubbo

    (“S. Chiara” University-Hospital
    University of Trento)

  • Laurent Petit

    (France - Université de Sherbrooke
    UMR 5293)

Abstract

Understanding the architecture of the white matter of the human brain is central to neuroscience and clinics. Despite major advances in tractography and white matter dissection, integrating these complementary techniques remains a longstanding challenge. Here, we introduce BraDiPho (Brain Dissection Photogrammetry), an open-access resource of high-resolution, fully textured 3D digital models of layer-by-layer white matter microdissection. The models are registered to their radiological space, allowing direct alignment of dissection and neuroimaging data. BraDiPho includes eight hemispheres, enriched with sample tractography bundles, anatomical annotations, and cortical atlases, establishing a unified framework for multimodal analyses. Four case studies demonstrate how BraDiPho supports anatomically grounded investigations, moving beyond classical side-by-side comparisons toward accurate integration of ex vivo dissection and in vivo tractography. All data, tools, and scripts are openly available, enabling customized research and educational applications. BraDiPho offers a framework to support multimodal investigations of human brain connectivity in both research and educational contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Vavassori & François Rheault & Erica Nocerino & Luciano Annicchiarico & Francesco Corsini & Luca Zigiotto & Alessandro Benedictis & Mattia Barbareschi & Umberto Rozzanigo & Paolo Avesani & Silvi, 2025. "Brain dissection photogrammetry: a tool for studying human white matter connections integrating ex vivo and in vivo multimodal datasets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64788-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64788-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Klaus H. Maier-Hein & Peter F. Neher & Jean-Christophe Houde & Marc-Alexandre Côté & Eleftherios Garyfallidis & Jidan Zhong & Maxime Chamberland & Fang-Cheng Yeh & Ying-Chia Lin & Qing Ji & Wilburn E., 2017. "The challenge of mapping the human connectome based on diffusion tractography," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
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