Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging: the principle and progress in the central nervous system

Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) is a novel multi-compartment diffusion imaging model. It can quantitatively analyze the neurite density and fibers orientation dispersion, which have influence on the fractional anisotropy (FA), one of the parameters derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Therefore, the microstructural changes can be evaluated more specifically on NODDI than on DTI. The principle and progress of NODDI in the central nervous system researches, including growth and aging, neurodegenerative disorders, multiple sclerosis, psychiatric disorders, and stroke, were reviewed in this paper. (authors)