A large range of sophisticated brain image analysis tools have been developed by the neuroscience community, greatly advancing the field of human brain mapping. Here we introduce the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT)-a powerful suite of tools for brain morphometric analyses with an intuitive graphical user interface but also usable as a shell script. CAT is suitable for beginners, casual users, experts, and developers alike, providing a comprehensive set of analysis options, workflows, and integrated pipelines. The available analysis streams-illustrated on an example dataset-allow for voxel-based, surface-based, and region-based morphometric analyses. Notably, CAT incorporates multiple quality control options and covers the entire analysis workflow, including the preprocessing of cross-sectional and longitudinal data, statistical analysis, and the visualization of results. The overarching aim of this article is to provide a complete description and evaluation of CAT while offering a citable standard for the neuroscience community.

This study explored how the human cortical folding pattern composed of convex gyri and concave sulci affected single-subject morphological brain networks, which are becoming an important method for studying the human brain connectome. We found that gyri-gyri networks exhibited higher morphological similarity, lower small-world parameters, and lower long-term test-retest reliability than sulci-sulci networks for cortical thickness- and gyrification index-based networks, while opposite patterns were observed for fractal dimension-based networks. Further behavioral association analysis revealed that gyri-gyri networks and connections between gyral and sulcal regions significantly explained inter-individual variance in Cognition and Motor domains for fractal dimension- and sulcal depth-based networks. Finally, the clinical application showed that only sulci-sulci networks exhibited morphological similarity reductions in major depressive disorder for cortical thickness-, fractal dimension-, and gyrification index-based networks. Taken together, these findings provide novel insights into the constraint of the cortical folding pattern to the network organization of the human brain.

The majority of human brain folding occurs during the third trimester of gestation. Although many studies have investigated the physical mechanisms of brain folding, a comprehensive understanding of this complex process has not yet been achieved. In mechanical terms, the \"differential growth hypothesis\" suggests that the formation of folds results from a difference in expansion rates between cortical and subcortical layers, which eventually leads to mechanical instability akin to buckling. It has also been observed that axons, a substantial component of subcortical tissue, can elongate or shrink under tensile or compressive stress, respectively. Previous work has proposed that this cell-scale behavior in aggregate can produce stress-dependent growth in the subcortical layers. The current study investigates the potential role of stress-dependent growth on cortical surface morphology, in particular the variations in folding direction and curvature over the course of development. Evolution of sulcal direction and mid-cortical surface curvature were calculated from finite element simulations of three-dimensional folding in four different initial geometries: (i) sphere; (ii) axisymmetric oblate spheroid; (iii) axisymmetric prolate spheroid; and (iv) triaxial spheroid. The results were compared to mid-cortical surface reconstructions from four preterm human infants, imaged and analyzed at four time points during the period of brain folding. Results indicate that models incorporating subcortical stress-dependent growth predict folding patterns that more closely resemble those in the developing human brain.
UNASSIGNED: Cortical folding is a critical process in human brain development. Aberrant folding is associated with disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, yet our understanding of the physical mechanism of folding remains limited. Ultimately mechanical forces must shape the brain. An important question is whether mechanical forces simply deform tissue elastically, or whether stresses in the tissue modulate growth. Evidence from this paper, consisting of quantitative comparisons between patterns of folding in the developing human brain and corresponding patterns in simulations, supports a key role for stress-dependent growth in cortical folding.

Recent work has uncovered relationships between evolutionarily new small and shallow cerebral indentations, or sulci, and human behavior. Yet, this relationship remains unexplored in the lateral parietal cortex (LPC) and the lateral parieto-occipital junction (LPOJ). After defining thousands of sulci in a young adult cohort, we revised the previous LPC/LPOJ sulcal landscape to include four previously overlooked, small, shallow, and variable sulci. One of these sulci (ventral supralateral occipital sulcus, slocs-v) is present in nearly every hemisphere and is morphologically, architecturally, and functionally dissociable from neighboring sulci. A data-driven, model-based approach, relating sulcal depth to behavior further revealed that the morphology of only a subset of LPC/LPOJ sulci, including the slocs-v, is related to performance on a spatial orientation task. Our findings build on classic neuroanatomical theories and identify new neuroanatomical targets for future \"precision imaging\" studies exploring the relationship among brain structure, brain function, and cognitive abilities in individual participants.

Folding of the cerebral cortex is a prominent characteristic of mammalian brains. Alterations or deficits in cortical folding are strongly correlated with abnormal brain function, cognition, and behavior. Therefore, a precise mapping between the anatomy and function of the brain is critical to our understanding of the mechanisms of brain structural architecture in both health and diseases. Gyri and sulci, the standard nomenclature for cortical anatomy, serve as building blocks to make up complex folding patterns, providing a window to decipher cortical anatomy and its relation with brain functions. Huge efforts have been devoted to this research topic from a variety of disciplines including genetics, cell biology, anatomy, neuroimaging, and neurology, as well as involving computational approaches based on machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms. However, despite increasing progress, our understanding of the functional anatomy of gyro-sulcal patterns is still in its infancy. In this review, we present the current state of this field and provide our perspectives of the methodologies and conclusions concerning functional differentiation between gyri and sulci, as well as the supporting information from genetic, cell biology, and brain structure research. In particular, we will further present a proposed framework for attempting to interpret the dynamic mechanisms of the functional interplay between gyri and sulci. Hopefully, this review will provide a comprehensive summary of anatomo-functional relationships in the cortical gyro-sulcal system together with a consideration of how these contribute to brain function, cognition, and behavior, as well as to mental disorders.

Cortical folding is an important feature of primate brains that plays a crucial role in various cognitive and behavioral processes. Extensive research has revealed both similarities and differences in folding morphology and brain function among primates including macaque and human. The folding morphology is the basis of brain function, making cross-species studies on folding morphology important for understanding brain function and species evolution. However, prior studies on cross-species folding morphology mainly focused on partial regions of the cortex instead of the entire brain. Previously, our research defined a whole-brain landmark based on folding morphology: the gyral peak. It was found to exist stably across individuals and ages in both human and macaque brains. Shared and unique gyral peaks in human and macaque are identified in this study, and their similarities and differences in spatial distribution, anatomical morphology, and functional connectivity were also dicussed.

The evolution of the brain in mammals is characterized by changes in size, architecture, and internal organization. Consequently, the geometry of the brain, and especially the size and shape of the cerebral cortex, has changed notably during evolution. Comparative studies of the cerebral cortex suggest that there are general architectural principles governing its growth and evolutionary development. In this chapter, some of the design principles and operational modes that underlie the fractal geometry and information processing capacity of the cerebral cortex in primates, including humans, will be explored. It is shown that the development of the cortex coordinates folding with connectivity in a way that produces smaller and faster brains.

UNASSIGNED: To investigate midbrain growth, including corpus callusum (CC), cerebellar vermis (CV) and cortical development in late fetal growth restriction (FGR) depending on uterine artery (UtA) Pulsatility Index (PI) values.
UNASSIGNED: This was a prospective study including singleton fetuses with late FGR characterized by abnormal cerebral placental ratio (CPR). According to UtA PI values, the FGR fetuses were subdivided into normal ≤95th centile) and abnormal (>95th centile). Neurosonography was performed at 33-44 weeks of gestations to assess CC and CV lengths and the depth of Sylvian fissure (SF), parieto-occipital (POF) and calcarine fissures (CF). Neurosonographic variables were normalized for fetal head circumference size.
UNASSIGNED: The study cohort included 60 fetuses with late FGR, 39 with normal UtA PI and 21 with abnormal PI values. The latter group showed significant differences in CC (median (interquartile range) normal 35.9 (28.49-45.53) vs abnormal UtA PI 25.31(19.76-35.13) mm; p < 0.0022), CV (normal 25.78 (18.19-29.35) abnormal UtA PI 17.03 (14.07-24.16)mm; p = 0.0067); SF (normal 10.58 (8.99-11.97)vs abnormal UtA PI 7.44 (6.23-8.46) mm; p < 0.0001), POF (normal 6.85 (6.35-8.14) vs abnormal UtA PI 4.82 (3.46-7.75) mm; p < = 0.0184) and CF (normal 04.157 (2.85-5.41) vs abnormal UtA PI 2.33 (2.49-4.01)); p < 0.0382).
UNASSIGNED: Late onset FGR fetuses with abnormal UtA PI showed shorter CC and CV length and delayed cortical development compared to those with normal uterine PI. These findings support the existence of a link between abnormal brain development and changes in utero placental circulation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate midbrain growth, including corpus callusum (CC) and cerebellar vermis (CV) and cortical development in late fetal growth restricted (FGR) subclassified according to the umbilical vein blood flow (UVBF) values.
METHODS: This was a prospective study on singleton fetuses late FGR with abnormal placental cerebral ratio (PCR). FGR fetuses were further subdivided into normal (≥fifth centile) and abnormal (RESULTS: The study cohort included 60 late FGR, 31 with normal UVBF/AC and 29 with abnormal UVBF/AC values. The latter group showed significant differences in CC (median (interquartile range (IQR) normal 0.96 (0.73-1.16) vs. abnormal UVBF/AC 0.60 (0.47-0.87); p<0.0001)), CV (normal 1.04 (0.75-1.26) vs. abnormal UVBF (AC 0.76 (0.62-1.18)); p=0.0319), SF (normal 0.83 (0.74-0.93) vs. abnormal UVBF/AC 0.56 (0.46-0.68); p<0.0001), POF (normal 0.80 (0.71-0.90) vs. abnormal UVBF/AC l 0.49 (0.39-0.90); p≤0.0072) and CF (normal 0.83 (0.56-1.01) vs. abnormal UVBF/AC 0.72 (0.53-0.80); p<0.029).
CONCLUSIONS: Late onset FGR fetuses with of reduced umbilical vein flow showed shorter CC and CV length and a delayed cortical development when compared to those with normal umbilical vein hemodynamics. These findings support the existence of a link between abnormal brain development and changes in umbilical vein circulation.

UNASSIGNED: Emotion-related impulsivity (ERI) describes the trait-like tendency toward poor self-control when experiencing strong emotions. ERI has been shown to be elevated across psychiatric disorders and predictive of the onset and worsening of psychiatric syndromes. Recent work has correlated ERI scores with the neuroanatomy of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Informed by a growing body of research indicating that the morphology of cortical folds (sulci) can produce insights into behavioral outcomes, the present study modeled the association between ERI and the sulcal morphology of OFC at a finer scale than previously conducted.
UNASSIGNED: Analyses were conducted in a transdiagnostic sample of 118 individuals with a broad range of psychiatric syndromes. We first manually defined over 2000 sulci across the 118 participants. We then implemented a model-based LASSO regression to relate OFC sulcal morphology to ERI and test whether effects were specific to ERI as compared to non-emotion-related impulsivity.
UNASSIGNED: The LASSO regression revealed bilateral associations of ERI with the depth of eight OFC sulci. These effects were specific to ERI and were not observed in non-emotion-related impulsivity. In addition, we identified a new transverse component of the olfactory sulcus in every hemisphere that is dissociable from the longitudinal component based on anatomical features and correlation with behavior, which could serve as a new transdiagnostic biomarker.
UNASSIGNED: The results of this data-driven investigation provide greater neuroanatomical and neurodevelopmental specificity on how OFC is related to ERI. As such, findings link neuroanatomical characteristics to a trait that is highly predictive of psychopathology.