Dealing with the shortcomings of spatial normalization: multi-subject parcellation of fMRI datasets

Hum Brain Mapp. 2006 Aug;27(8):678-93. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20210.

Abstract

The analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data recorded on several subjects resorts to the so-called spatial normalization in a common reference space. This normalization is usually carried out on a voxel-by-voxel basis, assuming that after coregistration of the functional images with an anatomical template image in the Talairach reference system, a correct voxel-based inference can be carried out across subjects. Shortcomings of such approaches are often dealt with by spatially smoothing the data to increase the overlap between subject-specific activated regions. This procedure, however, cannot adapt to each anatomo-functional subject configuration. We introduce a novel technique for intra-subject parcellation based on spectral clustering that delineates homogeneous and connected regions. We also propose a hierarchical method to derive group parcels that are spatially coherent across subjects and functionally homogeneous. We show that we can obtain groups (or cliques) of parcels that well summarize inter-subject activations. We also show that the spatial relaxation embedded in our procedure improves the sensitivity of random-effect analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Brain / physiology
  • Brain Mapping / methods*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*