Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 01:47:46 -0500

Digital Slice of Brain: An Atlas of the Human Brain in Serial Sections using Flash 5.

Suzanne S. Stensaas, PhD, Larry J. Stensaas, PhD, Derek Cowan, and Valeri Craigle

Dept. Physiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy and Eccles Health
Sciences Library, Univ. of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

ABSTRACT:

Method

All nuclei, cortical areas and myelinated pathways were mapped utilizing a single, serially sectioned specimen with internal reference markers.Successive pairs of adjacent Nissl or myelin stained 35-mm sections were analyzed in 1 mm increments by means of a dual-stage microscope and optical bridge. Boundaries apparent in the optically superposed horizontal sections were plotted on 12X photographic enlargements of each section. The maps were scanned, imported, traced and labeled in Macromedia Freehand then imported into Macromedia Flash 4. Whole brain maps of cortical areas and regional subdivisions were similarly created at 3 mm intervals.

Organization and Implementation

The use of Flash 5 (Macromedia), normally considered an animation tool, permits rapid display of images either on CD-ROM or the Web. The entire assembled standalone application is 60 MB, without the print files. This provides rapid response, zooming, panning, and many rollover labels. Delivery via the web has not been implemented, as the user would have to pre-load the entire atlas in its current configuration. The 200-page black and white computer atlas depicts traditional brain anatomy with all subcortical nuclei and pathways labeled by name (not abbreviations). A 200-page companion color version delineates 20 sensory, motor, homeostatic and core cognitive functional systems as an aid to teaching. The user can view and print the images with or without labels, and with or without color. The color coded functional systems serve to assist the student/resident/faculty in associating function and structure. The overall coloring system has been incorporated into a glyph-like image that permits an overview of the elements. These can then be extracted to create educational animations. A pilot animation of the basal ganglia and their action in voluntary movement has been made using the "cast of characters" from the atlas. These animations use color and speed to indicate excitation and inhibition as well as efficacy of transmission. The animations can be used separately from the atlas and run on the web. The vector graphics permit reliable and fast delivery even over a modem. The animations will join others for general use at the Knowledge Weavers Website.

Printing by the user reduces the cost of large format photographic plates. The cost of such an atlas in print form from a traditional publisher would be in the range of several hundred dollars. Giving the user the ability to assemble their own atlas of the regions that interests them, in black and white or color, and with or without labels means that multiple copies can be made of the levels of particular interest. Similarly the digital images can be incorporated into presentations or used for other purposes. The atlas contains more detail than most medical students need or want at the beginning of their training. It is primarily a research tool or resource suitable for residents and faculty in radiology, surgery, neurology. Graduate students and faculty of neuroscience interested in a comprehensive atlas of the structure of the human brain will find it comprehensive.

Regretfully, it is not easy to reassemble the horizontal sections in other planes for modeling in three planes. While structures are each segmented, there is considerable shrinkage and distortion of structures from section to section so that even with fiduciary markings each object would require extensive smoothing and approximation.

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

The use of Flash as a presentation medium for scholarly works is a new and powerful tool for academic publishing of image intense documents. Clear clean photos or labeled photos can be obtained from the same files. The crisp graphics and high resolution provide detail and color not possible at a reasonable price in print format. Extraction of elements or objects from the file for use in animations is another useful feature of the software. With the recent acquisition of Allaire (Cold Fusion) by Macromedia Flash promises to have an even bigger web presence.

Suzanne S. Stensaas, PhD
Eccles Health Sciences Library
University of Utah
10 North 1900 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5890
Phone: 801-585-1281
Fax: 801-581-3632
Email: suzanne.stensaas@hsc.utah.edu
Website: Atlas: http://library.med.utah.edu/eccles/slice/brain.html
Personal: http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/Suzanne.html

CO-AUTHORS:

Larry J. Stensaas, PhD, Department of Physiology
Derek Cowan and Valeri Craigle, Eccles Health Sciences Library
University of Utah
10 North 1900 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5890
Fax: 801-581-3632
Email: vcraigle@lib.med.utah.edu
dcowan@library.med.utah.edu