Computer mapping of brain-stem sensory centers in man

Abstract

A computer program is described for use on-line with a two--stage stereotaxic technique in man. It has four capabilities. It transposes coordinates between a brain atlas and a stereotaxic frame, simultaneously adjusting for variations in individual brain dimensions. Corrections for electrode trajectories, and for any irregularities of placement of the stereotaxic frame in the head are also made. It plots an operative template that shows electrode trajectories and the sites from which physiological data are collected appropriately oriented upon a sagittal diagram of the brain. It graphically displays physiological data in the form of a Woolsey-type figurine chart that indicates threshold in milliamperes and, through the use of coded symbols, the quality of response and certain other data. It stores all this data in a tape library together with the locations of any lesions made. This makes it possible to replot any individual patient's operative data at any time. It also permits scanning of the stored protocols from all patients for any particular type of data either by itself or in combination with other data. This retrieved information is plotted on appropriate sagittal brain diagrams corrected for individual variations in brain size. Illustrations of the capabilities of the program are presented particularly with reference to the primary afferent pathways of the upper brain stem.