A cross-species, cross-modal approach to computational neuroanatomy

Some scientists believe that what makes the brain special is its complex web of connections. To understand how the brain works and how it breaks down in disease, we must be able to measure brain connections. This can be done accurately in animals, but even modern tools in humans only give a rudimentary picture of the brain connections. This makes it difficult to trust them in the clinic, where precision is crucial for the success of surgical interventions. My work bridges the gap between animal and human methods. I will use a large collection of data on the brain connections of a close relative of humans, the macaque monkey. This data is being digitised and formatted such that it can be used to make human MRI closer to the precision of animal methods. I will then deploy new algorithms to precisely localise brain areas to be targeted in brain surgery.