Abstract
Brain atlases are important reference resources for accurate anatomical description of neuroscience data. Open access, three-dimensional atlases serve as spatial frameworks for integrating experimental data and defining regions-of-interest in analytic workflows. However, naming conventions, parcellation criteria, area definitions, and underlying mapping methodologies differ considerably between atlases and across atlas versions. This lack of standardization impedes use of atlases in analytic tools and registration of data to different atlases. To establish a machine-readable standard for representing brain atlases, we identified four fundamental atlas elements, defined their relations, and created an ontology model. Here we present our Atlas Ontology Model (AtOM) and exemplify its use by applying it to mouse, rat, and human brain atlases. We propose minimum requirements for FAIR atlases and discuss how AtOM may facilitate atlas interoperability and data integration. AtOM provides a standardized framework for communication and use of brain atlases to create, use, and refer to specific atlas elements and versions. We argue that AtOM will accelerate analysis, sharing, and reuse of neuroscience data.
Competing Interest Statement
MM is the founder and has equity interest in SciCrunch Inc, a tech start up out of UCSD that provides tools and services in support of reproducible science and Research Resource Identifiers. JGB is a member of the Management Board of the EBRAINS AISBL, Brussels, Belgium. The other authors declare that no competing interests or conflicts of interest exist for any of the authors.
Footnotes
↵* Shared first authorship