title: Manual segmentation of the human bed nucleus of the stria terminalis using 3T MRI.
abstract: The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)-a small gray matter region located in the basal forebrain-has been implicated in both anxiety and addiction based on compelling evidence from rodent and non-human primate studies. However, the BNST's small size and proximity to other gray matter regions has hindered non-invasive study in human subjects using standard neuroimaging methods. While initial studies have benefitted from a BNST mask created from a single human subject using a 7T scanner, individual variability is likely-especially in patient populations-thus a manual segmentation protocol is needed. Here we report on the development of a reliable manual segmentation protocol performed on 3T MRI images using a scanning sequence that provides high gray matter/white matter/cerebrospinal fluid contrast. Inter- and intra-rater reliabilities, measured in 10 healthy individuals, demonstrate that the protocol can be reliably implemented (intra-rater Dice similarity coefficient≥0.85, inter-rater≥0.77). This BNST tracing protocol provides the necessary foundation for future 3T MRI studies of the BNST in healthy controls and patient populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Theiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ridgewell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McHugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heckers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.blackford@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer Urbano
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Blackford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Addiction; Anxiety; BNST; MRI; Segmentation; Volumes