AI Brain Mapping Boosts Surgery Success

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University of Bonn scientists pair AI with brain imaging to create precise maps of nerve connections, advancing surgical planning capabilities.

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Tractography, a specialized MRI technique, enables doctors to visualize vital brain pathways controlling speech, movement, and thinking processes.

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The AI system TractSeg faced challenges when mapping brains of epilepsy patients who underwent surgery to separate their brain hemispheres.

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AI occasionally produced "hallucinations" - showing nerve pathways that were surgically removed while missing some existing connections.

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Researchers developed a hybrid method combining AI with traditional techniques to eliminate false pathways and capture accurate brain connections.

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Professor Thomas Schultz led the project, collaborating with neurologist Dr. Theodor Rüber to ensure practical medical applications.

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Multiple programs supported this research, including BNTrAinee and Neuro-aCSis Bonn Neuroscience Clinician Scientist Program.

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The new brain mapping approach aims to help surgeons plan operations with greater precision for patients with neurological conditions.

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