title: Registering and analyzing rat fMRI data in the stereotaxic framework by exploiting intrinsic anatomical features.
abstract: The value of analyzing neuroimaging data on a group level has been well established in human studies. However, there is no standard procedure for registering and analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data into common space in rodent fMRI studies. An approach for performing rat imaging data analysis in the stereotaxic framework is presented. This method is rooted in the biological observation that the skull shape and size of rat brain are essentially the same as long as their weights are within certain range. Registration is performed using rigid-body transformations without scaling or shearing, preserving the unique properties of the stable shape and size inherent in rat brain structure. Also, it does not require brain tissue masking and is not biased towards surface coil sensitivity profile. A standard rat brain atlas is used to facilitate the identification of activated areas in common space, allowing accurate region of interest analysis. This technique is evaluated from a group of rats (n=11) undergoing routine MRI scans; the registration accuracy is estimated to be within 400 microm. The analysis of fMRI data acquired with an electrical forepaw stimulation model demonstrates the utility of this technique. The method is implemented within the Analysis of Functional NeuroImages (AFNI) framework and can be readily extended to other studies.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. luha@intra.nida.nih.gov
authors.forename: Hanbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Clara A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Scholl
authors.forename: Yantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demny
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: Elliot A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Yihong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013382:Subtraction Technique