Towards an Individualized Delineation of Functional Neuroanatomy

Abstract

The functional neuroanatomy of the human brain is known to vary between individuals, yet current descriptions are based on group-averaged data. Laumann et al. (2015) present data from one highly sampled individual and show unique fine-grained differences representing subject-specific functional architecture.

Keywords: fMRI; functional connectivity; network; neuroimaging; parcellation.

Figure 1. Schematic of the Single-Subject Approach

(A) Typical approach to parcellation using group-average data. In prior studies, data from a group of many individual participants is averaged to create a parcellation that delineates patterns of functional neuroanatomy. However, because group-average data across dozens of participants is used, this parcellation necessarily reflects common functional neuroanatomical features present across individuals. (B) Single-participant approach used by Laumann et al. (2015). In this approach, one individual was scanned repeatedly, resulting in 14 hr of data. This data was then used to create a detailed functional parcellation that delineates the detailed functional neuroanatomy of that individual. Results show commonalities with the group-level parcellation but also reveal replicable, fine-grained differences that are present only in the individual.