Flat-bed scanning as a tool for quantitative neuroimaging

The aim of this study was to compare three different imaging techniques which are used to provide data on the laminar structure of the human cerebral cortex. Region V1 of Brodmann's area 17 stained with cresyl violet was investigated, and a conventional semi-automatic morphometric evaluation, the videomicroscropic procedure and a new transparent flat-bed scanning technique were compared. The results of each digitizing method were converted into normalized profiles which allow the laminae in the striate cortex to be displayed. It was found that major laminar patterns can be detected by the scanning technique, but that subsidiary laminations are more clearly displayed by morphometry and videomicroscopy. For magnifications up to × 400 a high resolution transparent flat-bed scanner may be used in place of the videomicroscopy technique.