Freesurfer cortical normative data for adults using Desikan-Killiany-Tourville and ex vivo protocols

Abstract

We recently built normative data for FreeSurfer morphometric estimates of cortical regions using its default atlas parcellation (Desikan-Killiany or DK) according to individual and scanner characteristics. We aimed to produced similar normative values for Desikan-Killianny-Tourville (DKT) and ex vivo-based labeling protocols, as well as examine the differences between these three atlases. Surfaces, thicknesses, and volumes of cortical regions were produced using cross-sectional magnetic resonance scans from the same 2713 healthy individuals aged 18-94 years as used in the reported DK norms. Models predicting regional cortical estimates of each hemisphere were produced using age, sex, estimated intracranial volume (eTIV), scanner manufacturer and magnetic field strength (MFS) as predictors. The DKT and DK models generally included the same predictors and produced similar R². Comparison between DK, DKT, ex vivo atlases normative cortical measures showed that the three protocols generally produced similar normative values.

Keywords: Aging; Atrophy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Morphometry; Normality; Segmentation; Sex.