Axonal bouton modeling, detection and distribution analysis for the study of neural circuit organization and plasticity

Christina A. Hallock, Inci Özgüneş, Ramamurthy Bhagavatula, Gustavo K. Rohde, Justin C. Crowley, Christina E. Onorato, Abhay Mavalankar, Amina Chebira, Hwa Tan Chuen, Markus Püschel, Jelena Kovačević

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We propose a novel method for axonal bouton modeling and automated detection in populations of labeled neurons, as well as bouton distribution analysis for the study of neural circuit organization and plasticity. Since axonal boutons are the presynaptic specializations of neural synapses, their locations can be used to determine the organization of neural circuitry, and in time-lapse studies, neural circuit dynamics. We propose simple geometric models for axonal boutons that account for variations in size, position, rotation and curvature of the axon in the vicinity of the bouton. We then use the normalized cross-correlation between the model and image data as a test statistic for bouton detection and position estimation. Thus, the problem is cast as a statistical detection problem where we can tune the algorithm parameters to maximize the probability of detection for a given probability of false alarm. For example, we can detect 81% of boutons with 9% false alarm from noisy, out of focus, images. We also present a novel method to characterize the orientation and elongation of a distribution of labeled boutons and we demonstrate its performance by applying it to a labeled data set.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2008 5th IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging
Subtitle of host publicationFrom Nano to Macro, Proceedings, ISBI
Pages165-168
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Event2008 5th IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Macro, ISBI - Paris, France
Duration: May 14 2008May 17 2008

Publication series

Name2008 5th IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Macro, Proceedings, ISBI

Other

Other2008 5th IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Macro, ISBI
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityParis
Period5/14/085/17/08

Keywords

  • Axonal bouton modeling
  • Bouton distribution analysis
  • Confocal microscopy
  • Light microscopy
  • Neural circuit organization and plasticity
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Neuron
  • Two-photon microscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomedical Engineering

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