Brain Atlases and Neuroimaging Applications

Brain atlases integrate anatomical, functional and connectivity data into coherent spatial frameworks. Early atlases provided two-dimensional representations of cortical and subcortical structures for stereotactic neurosurgery, evolving with advances in magnetic resonance imaging and computational power into high-resolution three-dimensional digital resources. Modern atlases encompass multimodal information at multiple scales, from macroscale parcellations of cortical regions to nanoscale reconstructions of synaptic networks, and support applications in basic neuroscience, personalised medicine and neurosurgical guidance. Integration of high-performance computing and machine learning has enabled the generation of probabilistic and dynamic atlases that reflect inter-individual variability and pathological alterations. These resources facilitate mapping of the connectome, aid diagnosis and prognosis of neurological disorders, and underpin emerging digital twin models for simulating individual brain function. Global initiatives in data sharing and standardisation are driving atlas interoperability, expanding access across research, clinical and educational settings, and accelerating translational impact worldwide.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have delivered computational scaffolds for reconstructing full-scale models of human brain regions. A novel methodology converts high-resolution microscopy into three-dimensional scaffold models of the hippocampal CA1 area, integrating soma positions with morphological connection matrices based on axonal and dendritic density functions. This approach provides ready-to-use data structures for multi-scale simulations and paves the way for personalised digital twin applications in cognitive research and disease modelling.

Brain Atlases and Neuroimaging Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in brain atlases and neuroimaging applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Brain atlas: A spatial reference combining anatomical, functional or connectivity data of the brain into a common coordinate framework. Connectome: The comprehensive map of neural connections within the brain, often derived from diffusion imaging or tractography. Probabilistic atlas: An atlas that represents variability across individuals by assigning probability values to anatomical features. Stereotactic neurosurgery: A minimally invasive surgical approach guided by three-dimensional imaging and atlas coordinates. Digital twin: A computational replica of an individual’s brain structure and function for simulation and personalised analysis.

References

1. Full-scale scaffold model of the human hippocampus CA1 area. Nature Computational Science (2023).
2. Toward Morphologic Atlasing of the Human Whole Brain at the Nanoscale. Big Data and Cognitive Computing (2023).
3. Evolution of Human Brain Atlases in Terms of Content, Applications, Functionality, and Availability. Neuroinformatics (2020).
4. Human Brain Atlases in Stroke Management. Neuroinformatics (2020).