Three‐dimensional maximum probability atlas of the human brain, with particular reference to the temporal lobe

Abstract

Probabilistic atlases of neuroanatomy are more representative of population anatomy than single brain atlases. They allow anatomical labeling of the results of group studies in stereotaxic space, automated anatomical labeling of individual brain imaging datasets, and the statistical assessment of normal ranges for structure volumes and extents. No such manually constructed atlas is currently available for the frequently studied group of young adults. We studied 20 normal subjects (10 women, median age 31 years) with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning. Images were nonuniformity corrected and reoriented along both the anterior-posterior commissure (AC-PC) line horizontally and the midsagittal plane sagittally. Building on our previous work, we have expanded and refined existing algorithms for the subdivision of MRI datasets into anatomical structures. The resulting algorithm is presented in the Appendix. Forty-nine structures were interactively defined as three-dimensional volumes-of-interest (VOIs). The resulting 20 individual atlases were spatially transformed (normalized) into standard stereotaxic space, using SPM99 software and the MNI/ICBM 152 template. We evaluated volume data for all structures both in native space and after spatial normalization, and used the normalized superimposed atlases to create a maximum probability map in stereotaxic space, which retains quantitative information regarding inter-subject variability. Its potential applications range from the automatic labeling of new scans to the detection of anatomical abnormalities in patients. Further data can be extracted from the atlas for the detailed analysis of individual structures.

FreeSurfer-initiated fully-automated subcortical brain segmentation in MRI using Large Deformation Diffeomorphic Metric Mapping

“…In addition, creating the averaged template requires a set of labeled training images, which demands a great deal of manual effort to construct. This is akin to the probabilistic atlas approach employed by FreeSurfer or the maximum probability maps by Hammers et al (2003).…”

Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibition by JNJ‐42165279: A Multiple‐Ascending Dose and a Positron Emission Tomography Study in Healthy Volunteers

“…Generation of TACs and kinetic modeling was performed with PMod v. 3.4 software (Zurich, Switzerland). Automated delineation of 83 volumes of interest (VOIs) according to the Hammers brain template9 was performed using the PNeuro tool in PMod. For data reduction and to obtain a better signal‐to‐noise ratio, smaller regions were united into composite VOIs to delineate the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum.…”

[18F]AV‐1451 PET in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia due to MAPT mutation

“…In older subjects with variable perfusion, kinetic modeling overcomes the potential problem with standardized uptake value ratios arising from a failure to reach steady state. Brain parcellation used the Hammers brain atlas,15 expanded to include subcortical structures 16…”