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Computation Conformal Mapping
The highly folded medial prefrontal cortex region of the brain (left and center) is well-suited for analysis with quasi-conformal "flat" maps (right).
Computational and mathematical tools are needed to analyze data from human brain scans. The Focused Research Group in Conformal Mapping and Scientific Visualization in the department of mathematics at Florida State University is applying tools developed through their National Science Foundation FRG (Focused Research Group) grant (DMS 01-01329) to a region of the brain (the medial prefrontal cortex) which has been implicated in depression and bipolar disease. This highly folded region (left and center) is ideal for being analyzed with quasi-conformal "flat" maps (right) in order to gain a better understanding of this region of the brain. By examining the folding patterns, curvature and shape of the flat maps of different subjects, diseased and non-diseased regions can be compared and measurements can be developed to quantify the similarities and difference between various regions. Data and images provided courtesy of Monica K. Hurdal (mathematics, Florida State University), Michael I. Miller (Center for Imaging Science, John Hopkins University) and Kelly Botteron (psychiatry and radiology, Washington University School of Medicine). (Date of Image: 2001-2004)
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Credit: Dr. Monica K. Hurdal, Department of Mathematics, Florida State University. For more information, email mhurdal@math.fsu.edu.
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