Cerebral cartography - A method for visualizing cortical structures

We present a method for visualizing the human cortex on one planar map. The data are taken from a 3D MRI study. Ray tracing with non-parallel rays is used to project the cortical relief onto a non-planar projection surface, which is in turn mapped onto the plane by cartographical projection. Two modifications of the method are proposed: the spherical mapping uses a sphere as the projection surface; the model-based mapping uses an analytically defined model of the scalp to generate the normal vectors. The cerebral cartography can be used for example for producing anatomical reference maps on which EEG measurement data can be superimposed. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.