Building the first holographic brain 'atlas'

A team of researchers, led by Case Western Reserve University scientists and technicians using the Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality platform, has created what is believed to be the first interactive holographic mapping system of the axonal pathways in the human brain.

The project, described by researchers as a "blending of advanced visualization hardware, software development and neuroanatomy data," is expected to have a wide range of scientific, clinical and educational applications and further a collaborative interaction between neuroanatomists and brain-imaging scientists.

For starters, it almost instantly becomes "the foundation for a new holographic neurosurgical navigation system" for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and is being dubbed "HoloDBS' by the team, said lead researcher Cameron McIntyre, Biomedical Engineer.

"More than 100 clinicians have had a chance to beta test this so far and the excitement around the technology has been exceptional," McIntyre said, adding that the method is already dramatically advancing scientists' understanding of the complexities associated with certain, targeted brain surgeries.

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