Show Me the Brain!!: A modern approach to neuroanatomy education

Show Me the Brain!! (SMtB) is a digital system for interactive graphics that is designed to support instruction in neuroanatomy and neuroscience. It will soon be made open-source and freely available. SMtB bridges medical and traditional neuroanatomy instruction with the computational systems and representational conventions common in contemporary human neuroimaging research, including an open-source programming environment, MRI-based atlases, standardized coordinate systems, and white matter pathways. The graphical component of SMtB brings together several forms of high-resolution imagery of the human brain, including 3D models of brain structures, color photography of Visible Human 2.0 cryosections, and structural MRI. These are co-registered in a single representation, and they are explored in an intuitive 3D environment through direct interaction and through links in embedded HTML documents. A key innovation in the system is the SMtB Scripting Language (SMtB-SL). This is a formal representation of the graphical display and user interaction that can be generated automatically through simple authoring tools. The result is a high-level authoring of scenes, assemblies, narratives, and tests that can be used to present material to users and implement learning strategies. SMtB supports multiple use cases: as a tool for self-directed learning, a classroom instructional tool, a research-grade neuroimaging data viewer, and a platform for experimental studies in learning and education. Its core digital design supports multiple forms of expansion and future development. We describe the system's architecture, the pedagogical principles behind its design, and applications of the system in neuroscience education and research.