Deformation Based Morphometry with Implicit Reference-Based Registration: Validation and Detection of Structural Changes in a Primate Model of Early-Life Stress

Xiujuan Geng¹, Thomas J. Ross¹, Svetlana Chefer¹, Hong Gu¹, Elliot Stein¹, Yihong Yang¹

A framework of deformation-based morphometry (DBM) with implicit reference-based group (IRG) registration is proposed. Comparisons between the proposed DBM method and the commonly used approach were made and results demonstrated more accurate volume change detection. Validation of cross group volumetric comparison using DBM was performed by simulating known volume change and deformation fields. The DBM technique was applied to a study of monkey brain morphological change due to early life stress, and compared to manual segmentation results. DBM provided consistent but more localized structural changes.