Comparison of spline methods for 3D brain mapping

Abstract

Brain mapping is a topographical method that is frequently used in human scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) for two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) visualisation of electrical potentials distributed across the surface of the brain. In human research, accepted standards for EEG recording and mapping exist, however to date, no such standards have yet been developed for use with laboratory rats. We have selected methods typically used for 3D brain mapping in humans and applied them to a brain model of the Wistar rat. Spherical and 3D splines were implemented as methods of the interpolation. The validation of 3D maps was created by using simulated signals of human and rat brain activity. The Root Mean Square error (RMS error) was calculated for the evaluation of interpolation methods. In conclusion, our results showed that the 3D spline interpolation yielded a better electrical potential map in both the human brain model and the rat brain model.