Using atlas data as a spatial reference for a result of a realistic neural network simulation

Model download

From The Allen Mouse Brain Reference Atlas, 2011 Segmentation download the following VRML high quality models:

• Basic cell groups and regions,
• Ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus,
• Primary somatosensory area, barrel field, layer 1,
• Primary somatosensory area, barrel field, layer 2/3,
• Primary somatosensory area, barrel field, layer 4,
• Primary somatosensory area, barrel field, layer 5,
• Primary somatosensory area, barrel field, layer 6a,
• Primary somatosensory area, barrel field, layer 6b.

Download also a model of a of the barrel cortex column . Unwrap downloaded archives.

Visualisation

Run  http://www.paraview.org ParaView software (description for version 4.0.1). Open downloaded *.wrl and *.vtk files. Click the Apply button (in the tab Properties).

Loaded models.

In the Properties tab set Styling: Opacity to 0.1 for scene_grey.wrl model. For every scene_SSp_bfd*.wrl model set Styling: Opacity to 0.3, then change Coloring from VRMLColor to Solid Color. Click Coloring: Edit and select color to:

• Red = 250, Green: 245, Blue: 255 for scene_SSp_bfd1.wrl,
• Red = 153, Green: 163, Blue: 255 for scene_SSp_bfd2Slash3.wrl,
• Red = 74, Green: 77, Blue: 128 for scene_SSp_bfd4.wrl,
• Red = 171, Green: 177, Blue: 255 for scene_SSp_bfd5.wrl,
• Red = 145, Green: 149, Blue: 213 for scene_SSp_bfd6a.wrl,
• Red = 177, Green: 170, Blue: 255 for scene_SSp_bfd6b.wrl.

Color and opacity settings.

Click Coloring: Edit for the framedata0051.vtk model (ensure that Coloring is set to voltage). Click the "Gear" icon to edit Color Scale. Set Color Space to CIELAB; set the left color point to Red = 59, Green = 76 and Blue = 192 and the right to Red = 255, Green = 255 and Blue = 0. Add two color points: at Color Scalar Value = -40 (Red = 150, Green = 150 and Blue = 0) and at Color Scalar Value = 18 (Red = 190, Green = 35 and Blue = 21). Click the Apply button, then close the Color Scale Editor window.

Voltage to color mapping.

Apply the Transform filter (Filters/Alphabetical/Transform from menu) to the framedata0051.vtk model. In the Properties tab set the transformation matrix to:

Translate	-3.71011222757522	-0.955791920040867	-0.855289018330382
Rotate	40.2025580192141	-63.976105129058	76.2999549515704
Scale	0.58	0.58	0.58

The transformation filter.

Click the Apply button.

A complete scene.

Choose an appropriate viewport and export the scene or a screenshot if you wish.

The complete scene at another viewpoint.

The complete scene - focus on the model of barrel cortex column.