Case study interacting with cortical flat maps of the human brain

• Published in: Proceedings of the conference on Visualization '01 pp. 469 - 472
• Main Authors: Hurdal, Monica K., Kurtz, Kevin W., Banks, David C.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC, USA IEEE Computer Society 21.10.2001
• Series: ACM Conferences
• Subjects: Applied computing > Document management and text processing > Document capture > Graphics recognition and interpretation; Applied computing > Life and medical sciences; Computing methodologies > Computer graphics; Computing methodologies > Computer graphics > Image manipulation; Computing methodologies > Computer graphics > Rendering; human brain; flat map; surface; MRI; neuroscience; conformal; interaction; cortical features
• ISBN: 9780780372009; 078037200X
• DOI: 10.5555/601671.601753

The complex geometry of the human brain contains many folds and fissures, making it impossible to view the entire surface at once. Since most of the cortical activity occurs on these folds, it is desirable to be able to view the entire surface of the brain in a single view. This can be achieved using quasi-conformal flat maps of the cortical surface. Computational and visualization tools are now needed to be able to interact with these flat maps of the brain to gain information about spatial and functional relationships that might not otherwise be apparent. Such information can contribute to earlier diagnostic tools for diseases and improved treatment. Our group is developing visualization and analysis tools that will help elucidate new information about the human brain through the interaction between a cortical surface and its corresponding quasi-conformal flat map.