title: Neurosurgery planning in rodents using a magnetic resonance imaging assisted framework to target experimentally defined networks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Meaningful targeting of brain structures is required in a number of experimental designs in neuroscience. Current technological developments as high density electrode arrays for parallel electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic tools that allow fine control of activity in specific cell populations provide powerful tools to investigate brain physio-pathology. However, to extract the maximum yield from these fine developments, increased precision, reproducibility and cost-efficiency in experimental procedures is also required.
  
  
  METHODS
  We introduce here a framework based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digitized brain atlases to produce customizable 3D-environments for brain navigation. It allows the use of individualized anatomical and/or functional information from multiple MRI modalities to assist experimental neurosurgery planning and in vivo tissue processing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a proof of concept we show three examples of experimental designs facilitated by the presented framework, with extraordinary applicability in neuroscience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results illustrate its feasibility for identifying and selecting functionally and/or anatomically connected neuronal population in vivo and directing electrode implantations to targeted nodes in the intricate system of brain networks.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pallarés
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Samper-Belda
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain. Electronic address: scanals@umh.es.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canals
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: dmoratal@eln.upv.es.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moratal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Computerized rat brain atlas; Electric microstimulation; Functional connectivity; MRI; Neurosurgery planning