A Four-Dimensional Probabilistic Atlas of the Human Brain

TLDR

The atlas is probabilistic because structural and functional variation among normal adults is large yet unquantified. The study aims to develop a four‑dimensional probabilistic atlas of the human brain covering ages 18–90, integrating macro‑ and micro‑structural and functional data. The International Consortium for Brain Mapping assembled data from 7,000 subjects, collecting detailed demographics, clinical, behavioral, imaging, and DNA information, and described the strategies, algorithms, validation, database design, and distribution methods used to build the atlas. The atlas enables applications in normal adults, children, and schizophrenia patients, offering new insights into micro‑macro structure–function relationships with implications for neuroscience, diagnostics, and cerebral disorders.

Abstract

The authors describe the development of a four-dimensional atlas and reference system that includes both macroscopic and microscopic information on structure and function of the human brain in persons between the ages of 18 and 90 years. Given the presumed large but previously unquantified degree of structural and functional variance among normal persons in the human population, the basis for this atlas and reference system is probabilistic. Through the efforts of the International Consortium for Brain Mapping (ICBM), 7,000 subjects will be included in the initial phase of database and atlas development. For each subject, detailed demographic, clinical, behavioral, and imaging information is being collected. In addition, 5,800 subjects will contribute DNA for the purpose of determining genotype- phenotype-behavioral correlations. The process of developing the strategies, algorithms, data collection methods, validation approaches, database structures, and distribution of results is described in this report. Examples of applications of the approach are described for the normal brain in both adults and children as well as in patients with schizophrenia. This project should provide new insights into the relationship between microscopic and macroscopic structure and function in the human brain and should have important implications in basic neuroscience, clinical diagnostics, and cerebral disorders.