Observer-independent analysis of high-resolution MR images of the human cerebral cortex: In vivo delineation of cortical areas

• Published in: Human brain mapping Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Walters, Nathan B., Eickhoff, Simon B., Schleicher, Axel, Zilles, Karl, Amunts, Katrin, Egan, Gary F., Watson, John D.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2007; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: architecture; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Mapping - instrumentation; Brain Mapping - methods; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Electrocardiography. Vectocardiography; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; mapping; Medical sciences; microstructure; Motion Perception - physiology; Nervous system; Neuroanatomy - instrumentation; Neuroanatomy - methods; Occipital Lobe - cytology; Occipital Lobe - physiology; Photic Stimulation; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; structure; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Human; Cartography; Cerebral cortex; High resolution; Image resolution; Nervous system diseases; magnetic resonance imaging; mapping; microstructure; Radiodiagnosis; Central nervous system; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; structure; Encephalon; Image analysis; Observer; architecture
• ISSN: 1065-9471; 1097-0193
• DOI: 10.1002/hbm.20267

Using high‐resolution MRI, it is now possible to examine the living human cortex down to a resolution of less than 300 μm. Thus, in vivo imaging is now approaching the resolution that has been successfully used in histological analysis of the cerebral cortex for many years, e.g., low‐magnification light microscopy. This allows unprecedented views of cortical microstructure that reflect defined histological features, specifically, individual cortical layers. As in histological brain mapping, it is possible to use the changes in the cortical lamination patterns to define individual cortical areas. This allows in vivo neuroanatomical maps to be generated for individual subjects and precise correlation of the results from functional imaging studies in these subjects with their own microanatomical information. To this end, we adapted the well‐established observer‐independent cytoarchitectonic mapping techniques for defining cortical borders based on changes in cortical lamination for in vivo parcellation of high‐resolution structural MR images. Hum. Brain Mapping, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.