Wavelet analysis for brain-function imaging

• Published in: IEEE transactions on medical imaging Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 556 - 564
• Main Authors: Carmona, R.A., Hwang, W.L., Frostig, R.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-09-1995; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Algorithm design and analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical imaging; Blood vessels; Brain; Image analysis; In vivo; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Nervous system; Optical imaging; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Signal analysis; Testing; Wavelet analysis; Image analysis; Treatment; Wavelet transformation; Blood vessel; Experimental study; Mathematical model; Image reconstruction; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0278-0062; 1558-254X
• DOI: 10.1109/42.414621

The authors present a new algorithmic procedure for the analysis of brain images. This procedure is specifically designed to image the activity and functional organization of the brain. The authors' results are tested on data collected and previously analyzed with the technique known as in vivo optical imaging of intrinsic signals. The authors' procedure enhances the applicability of this technique and facilitates the extension of the underlying ideas to other imaging problems (e.g., functional MRI). The authors' thrust is two fold. First, they give a systematic method to control the blood vessel artifacts which typically reduce the dynamic range of the image. They propose a mathematical model for the vibrations in time of the veins and arteries and they design a new method for cleaning the images of the vessels with the highest time variations. This procedure is based on the analysis of the singularities of the images. The use of wavelet transform is of crucial importance in characterizing the singularities and reconstructing appropriate versions of the original images. The second important component of the authors' work is the analysis of the time evolution of the fine structure of the images. They show that, once the images have been cleaned of the blood vessel vibrations/variations, the principal component of the time evolutions of the signals is due to the functional activity following the stimuli. The part of the brain where this function takes place can be localized and delineated with precision.< >