3D optical localization system for multimodal co-registration

许多非侵入性神经成像技术可以应用于研究正常的大脑功能和大脑疾病。然而，没有理想的探测技术能够精确地测量大脑中活动发生的时间(毫秒级)和地点(毫米级)。每种神经成像技术都通过不同的机制(神经元电量、耗氧量)测量部分大脑活动，有时更专注于“在哪里？”这一问题。(良好的空间分辨率)还是“什么时候？”(良好的时间分辨率)。我的研究项目的目标是适当地结合这些多模式数据，以准确地描述潜在的大脑活动。我们假设，通过组合多模式数据，我们将能够检测到通过单独考虑每种模式而可能遗漏的额外信息，并且在一种模式中获得的信息可以在另一种模式中增强分析。在这种情况下，控制获取几何是确保我们从一个模式到另一个模式测量来自同一大脑区域的信号的关键问题。许多这样的成像技术，如脑电(EEG)、脑磁图(MEG)和近红外光谱(NIRS)，都是通过放置在头皮上的电极、传感器或光纤来测量大脑信号。在多模式数据融合之前，通过解剖磁共振成像(MRI)数据建模，根据每个对象的解剖结构准确定位这些测量位置是必不可少的。

Many non-invasive neuroimaging techniques can be applied to study normal brain functions and brain disorders. However, there is no ideal exploration technique able to measure precisely when (at a millisecond scale) and where (at a millimeter scale) an activity occurred in the brain. Each neuroimaging technique measures part of brain activity through different mechanisms (neuronal electricity, oxygen consumption), being sometimes more dedicated to the question "where?" (good spatial resolution) or to the question "when?" (good temporal resolution). The objective of my research project is to combine appropriately these multimodal data to precisely characterize underlying brain activity. We assume that by combining multimodal data we will be able to detect additional information that could be missed by considering each modality individually, and that the information obtained in one modality can enhance the analysis in another. In this context, controlling acquisition geometry is a key issue to ensure that we are measuring signals from the same brain region from one modality to another. Many of these imaging techniques such as Electro-EncephaloGraphy (EEG), Magneto-EncephaloGraphy (MEG) and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) measure brain signals through electrodes, sensors or optic fibers placed on the scalp. Accurate localization of these measurements locations with the anatomy of each subject, modeled through anatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data, is essential before multimodal data fusion.