Three-dimensional probabilistic atlas of the human orbitofrontal sulci in standardized stereotaxic space

A quantitative analysis of the variability of human orbitofrontal anatomica l landmarks is required if one is to describe properly the location of func tional or structural changes within this brain region. The present study in vestigated the orbitofrontal sulci in 100 normal adult human cerebral hemis pheres using magnetic resonance images that were transformed into the stand ardized proportional stereotaxic space most commonly used, that of Talairac h and Tournoux (1988). Four orbitofrontal sulci were identified and marked on each hemisphere: the olfactory, the medial, the lateral, and the transve rse orbital sulci. Probability maps were then constructed for each sulcus. These maps provide a statistical description of the variability of the Loca tion of each orbitofrontal sulcus within the three-dimensional coordinate s ystem of Talairach and Tournoux (1988). These probability maps may be direc tly compared with any image transformed into the same standardized space, p roviding a valuable tool for identifying and describing the location of fun ctional or structural changes in the orbitofrontal region of the human brai n, (C) 2001 Academic Press.