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Brain Anatomy (brain + anatomy)
Selected AbstractsIllustrative Hybrid Visualization and Exploration of Anatomical and Functional Brain DataCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2008W. M. Jainek Abstract Common practice in brain research and brain surgery involves the multi-modal acquisition of brain anatomy and brain activation data. These highly complex three-dimensional data have to be displayed simultaneously in order to convey spatial relationships. Unique challenges in information and interaction design have to be solved in order to keep the visualization sufficiently complete and uncluttered at the same time. The visualization method presented in this paper addresses these issues by using a hybrid combination of polygonal rendering of brain structures and direct volume rendering of activation data. Advanced rendering techniques including illustrative display styles and ambient occlusion calculations enhance the clarity of the visual output. The presented rendering pipeline produces real-time frame rates and offers a high degree of configurability. Newly designed interaction and measurement tools are provided, which enable the user to explore the data at large, but also to inspect specific features closely. We demonstrate the system in the context of a cognitive neurosciences dataset. An initial informal evaluation shows that our visualization method is deemed useful for clinical research. [source] Agnathan brain anatomy and craniate phylogenyACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 2009Roman Hossein Khonsari Abstract The central nervous system of hagfishes displays unique characteristics that are distinct from any other craniate neuroanatomic features. Whether these hagfish characters are general for all craniates, autapomorphies of hagfishes, or merely a derived state of the general cyclostome condition is still a matter of debate that relates to the question of the monophyly or paraphyly of the cyclostomes. The present cladistic study includes 123 neuroanatomical characters of nine chordate species and supports cyclostome paraphyly, in contrast to most current molecular sequence-based phylogenies, which support cyclostome monophyly. An understanding of the unique neural characters in hagfishes is critical to inspiring further comparative and developmental studies with regards to these two conflicting results and the very deep divergence between craniates and their presumed sister groups. The recent access to hagfish developmental data may provide exciting perspectives in the understanding and characterization of the basalmost craniate node and the interpretation of hagfish brain structure. [source] The human hippocampus at 7 T,In vivo MRIHIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 1 2009Jens M. Theysohn Abstract The human hippocampus plays a central role in various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), Alzheimer's dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and schizophrenia. Its volume, morphology, inner structure, and function are of scientific and clinical interest. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a widely employed tool in neuroradiological workup regarding changes in brain anatomy, (sub-) volumes, and cerebral function including the hippocampus. Gain in intrinsic MR signal provided by higher field strength scanners and concomitant improvements in spatial resolution seem highly valuable. An examination protocol permitting complete, high-resolution imaging of the human hippocampus at 7 T was implemented. Coronal proton density, T2, T2*, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery contrasts were acquired as well as an isotropic 3D magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (500 ,m isotropic voxel dimension, noninterpolated). Observance of energy deposition restrictions within acceptable scan times remained challenging in the acquisition of thin, spin-echo-based sections. At the higher resolution enabled by 7 T, demarcation of the hippocampus and some internal features including gray/white matter differentiation and depiction of the hippocampal mantle becomes much more viable when compared with 1.5 T; thus, in the future, this imaging technology might help in the diagnosis of subtle hippocampal changes. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Virtual reality and brain anatomy: a randomised trial of e-learning instructional designsMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 5 2007Anthony J Levinson Context, Computer-aided instruction is used increasingly in medical education and anatomy instruction with limited research evidence to guide its design and deployment. Objectives, To determine the effects of (a) learner control over the e-learning environment and (b) key views of the brain versus multiple views in the learning of brain surface anatomy. Design, Randomised trial with 2 phases of study. Participants Volunteer sample of 1st-year psychology students (phase 1, n = 120; phase 2, n = 120). Interventions, Phase 1: computer-based instruction in brain surface anatomy with 4 conditions: (1) learner control/multiple views (LMV); (2) learner control/key views (LKV); (3) programme control/multiple views (PMV); (4) programme control/key views (PKV). Phase 2: 2 conditions: low learner control/key views (PKV) versus no learner control/key views (SKV). All participants performed a pre-test, post-test and test of visuospatial ability. Main outcome measures, A 30-item post-test of brain surface anatomy structure identification. Results The PKV group attained the best post-test score (57.7%) and the PMV group received the worst (42.2%), with the 2 high learner control groups performing in between. For students with low spatial ability, estimated scores are 20% lower for those who saw multiple views during learning. In phase 2, students with the most static condition and no learner control (SKV) performed similarly to those students in the PKV group. Conclusions Multiple views may impede learning, particularly for those with relatively poor spatial ability. High degrees of learner control may reduce effectiveness of learning. [source] | ||||||||||