Finite Element Decomposition of the Human Neocortex

Finite Element Decomposition of the Human Neocortex. (May 1998) Seeling Chow, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair Advisory Committee: Dr. Bruce H. McCormick The finite element decomposition of the human neocortex provides a structural information framework for the visualization and spatial organization of the neocortex at progressive levels of detail. The decomposition satisfies neuroanatomical consistency, a set of constraints defined by neuroanatomists' needs, the anatomical structure of the brain, and the positioning of neurons inside the neocortical tissue. The finite elements provide the boundaries for numerical grid generators to establish boundary-conforming local coordinate systems for the systematic study and visualization of cortical neuron populations. The decomposition method is implemented with a newly developed set of object-oriented software tools.