Turbo-BrainVoyager v4.4

MNI Normalization

MNI1

TBV 4.0 introduces the possibility to normalize anatomical 3D datasets that are scanned usually prior to subsequent functional real-time runs. It expects an intra-session VMR file created using the VMR-from-DICOMs creation tool. For optimal normalization results, it is also recommended to use the intra-session VMR file after applying the brain extraction and intensity inhomogeneity processing step.

Note. TBV does not currently support transformation to AC-PC or Talairach space. For normalization to these spaces, BrainVoyager software can be used.

In order to apply MNI normalization, click the Normalize To MNI Template Space item in the File menu (see screenshot above). The program will launch a standard File Open dialog that can be used to select the intra-session (and inhomogeneity corrected) VMR file. The loaded file will be shown in TBV's Volume View (see screenshot below).

MNI2

Note that the TRA sub-section of the Volume View shows the reference space of the loaded dataset in the upper right corner, which is INTRA-SESSION SPACE in the screenshot above. Right after showing the loaded anatomical dataset, the program starts the MNI normalization process without further interaction. After a few seconds the process finishes and the program displays the resulting normalized dataset in the Volume View (see screenshot below) replacing the loaded input dataset.

MNI3

Note that now the upper right corner of the TRA section of the Volume View now shows MNI SPACE as expected. The resulting VMR dataset will be stored automatically in the same folder as the selected input VMR file. The new file name will be based on the original name plus a _MNI substring. If the original file, for example, is named sub-01_intrasession_IIHC.vmr, the resulting VMR file will be saved as sub-01_intrasession_IIHC_MNI.vmr to disk The produced MNI file can be specified in the VMR-SRF tab of the TBV Settings dialog for visualization purposes and it can be used for preparing (inter-session) volumes-of-interest.