title: Subject-matched templates for spatial normalization.
abstract: Spatial normalization of images from multiple subjects is a common problem in group comparison studies, such as voxel-based and deformation-based morphometric analyses. Use of a study-specific template for normalization may improve normalization accuracy over a study-independent standard template (Good et al., NeuroImage, 14(1):21-36, 2001). Here, we develop this approach further by introducing the concept of subject-matched templates. Rather than using a single template for the entire population, a different template is used for every subject, with the template matched to the subject in terms of age, sex, and potentially other parameters (e.g., disease). All subject-matched templates are created from a single generative regression model of atlas appearance, thus providing a priori template-to-template correspondence without registration. We demonstrate that such an approach is technically feasible and significantly improves spatial normalization accuracy over using a single template.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA. torsten@synapse.sri.com
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rohlfing
authors.forename: Edith V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Adolf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfefferbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult