Uncovering the locus coeruleus: Comparison of localization methods for functional analysis

Functional neuroimaging of small brainstem structures in humans is gaining interest due to their potential importance aging and many clinical conditions. Researchers have used different methods measure activity the locus coeruleus (LC), main noradrenergic nucleus brain. However, extent which these LC localization yield similar results unclear. In present article, we compared four approaches estimate a large sample (N = 98): 1) probabilistic map from previous study, 2) masks segmented neuromelanin-sensitive scans, both manually semi-automatically, 3) components masked-independent analysis functional data, 4) mask pupil regression data. The all been previously imaging community localize vivo humans. We report several measures similarity between obtained methods. addition, compare connectivity maps masks. conclude that sample-specific appear more suitable than an independent sample, based on structural versus may capture portions LC, that, at group level, creation “consensus” using one approach give better localization.