title: A Generative Statistical Algorithm for Automatic Detection of Complex Postures.
abstract: This paper presents a method for automated detection of complex (non-self-avoiding) postures of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and its application to analyses of locomotion defects. Our approach is based on progressively detailed statistical models that enable detection of the head and the body even in cases of severe coilers, where data from traditional trackers is limited. We restrict the input available to the algorithm to a single digitized frame, such that manual initialization is not required and the detection problem becomes embarrassingly parallel. Consequently, the proposed algorithm does not propagate detection errors and naturally integrates in a "big data" workflow used for large-scale analyses. Using this framework, we analyzed the dynamics of postures and locomotion of wild-type animals and mutants that exhibit severe coiling phenotypes. Our approach can readily be extended to additional automated tracking tasks such as tracking pairs of animals (e.g., for mating assays) or different species.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goessling
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Department of Computer Science, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amit
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Department of Physics and the James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biron
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*