Parcellations and Hemispheric Asymmetries of Human Cerebral Cortex Analyzed on Surface-Based Atlases

We report on surface-based analyses that enhance our understanding of human cortical organization, including its convolutions and its parcellation into many distinct areas. The surface area of human neocortex averages 973 cm(2) per hemisphere, based on cortical midthickness surfaces of 2 cohorts of subjects. We implemented a method to register individual subjects to a hybrid version of the FreeSurfer "fsaverage" atlas whose left and right hemispheres are in precise geographic correspondence. Cortical folding patterns in the resultant population-average "fs_LR" midthickness surfaces are remarkably similar in the left and right hemispheres, even in regions showing significant asymmetry in 3D position. Both…

• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: 1U54MH091657, 1U54MH091657-01
• MC
  McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience

  Award: 1U54MH091657
• NI
  National Institute of Mental Health

  Awards: R01 MH 60974, 1U54MH091657
• NB
  NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research

  Award: 1U54MH091657