Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Research on human brain use three dimensional (3D) images of the brain obtained through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A brain atlas is an essential tool in that research field. It is composed of a set of digital maps which describe brain anatomy and identify the boundaries of functional regions of the brain. We propose to build an ultra-high resolution atlas of the human brain. Recently, the BigBrain dataset as been produced at McGill University. It is a 3D digital image of the human brain with unparalleled 3D resolution. It reveals 3D details that are 125,000 times smaller than a regular MRI volume. However, at present it is only an image, not an atlas. For it to be an atlas, we have to identify every 3D pixel; first with an anatomical label (such as "grey matter" or "white matter") and second with a functional region label (such as "visual cortex" or "memory area"). This will allow the BigBrain dataset to be used in a variety of brain research and clinical applications and also to be used for teaching purposes such as training medical students in the 3D neuroanatomy. For research, it will be used as a template to interpret the lower-resolution MRI images that we use to understand brain development in children and the neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. We will also use it as a guide to the study of normal brain functions, such as sensation (vision, hearing etc.), memory, language, attention and other higher brain functions. For clinical applications, it will be most useful as a guide to neurosurgeons who always make use of brain atlases to plan their surgery. This is typically done using 2D atlas pages in a book. This is very restrictive since they cannot change the angle of view in a book. The BigBrain 3D digital atlas will allow them to view the relevant brain areas from any angle, much in the way that one might interact with a video game. This makes it much easier for them to get the information they need for surgical planning.