Digital rat brain: a computerized atlas

Digital brain mapping provides the techniques required for 3 dimensional (3D) reconstruction and display. This paper describes work which extends the data published in the Paxinos and Watson (1982) atlas of the rat brain to a computerized form. The product of these experiments is a 3D digital neuroanatomic atlas. The data were transformed from 2D outlines to 3D volumes each associated with a specific neuroanatomic structure. The system which manages this transformation also provides tools to manipulate the composition, orientation and appearance of the displays interactively.