Inter-subject connectivity-based parcellation of a patch of cerebral cortex

Abstract

This paper presents a connectivity-based parcellation of the human post-central gyrus, at the level of the group of subjects. The dimension of the clustering problem is reduced using a set of cortical regions of interest determined at the inter-subject level using a surface-based coordinate system, and representing the regions with a strong connection to the post-central gyrus. This process allows a clustering based on criteria which are more reproducible across subjects than in an intra-subject approach. We obtained parcels relatively stable in localisation across subjects as well as homogenous and well-separated to each other in terms of connectivity profiles. To address the parcellation at the inter-subject level provides a direct matching between parcels across subjects. In addition, this method allows the identification of subject-specific parcels. This property could be useful for the study of pathologies. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.