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@ARTICLE{Schiffer:1048160,
author = {Schiffer, Christian and Boztoprak, Zeynep and Kropp,
Jan-Oliver and Thönnißen, Julia and Berr, Katia and
Spitzer, Hannah and Amunts, Katrin and Dickscheid, Timo},
title = {{C}yto{N}et: {A} {F}oundation {M}odel for the {H}uman
{C}erebral {C}ortex},
publisher = {arXiv},
reportid = {FZJ-2025-04528},
year = {2025},
abstract = {To study how the human brain works, we need to explore the
organization of the cerebral cortex and its detailed
cellular architecture. We introduce CytoNet, a foundation
model that encodes high-resolution microscopic image patches
of the cerebral cortex into highly expressive feature
representations, enabling comprehensive brain analyses.
CytoNet employs self-supervised learning using spatial
proximity as a powerful training signal, without requiring
manual labelling. The resulting features are anatomically
sound and biologically relevant. They encode general aspects
of cortical architecture and unique brain-specific traits.
We demonstrate top-tier performance in tasks such as
cortical area classification, cortical layer segmentation,
cell morphology estimation, and unsupervised brain region
mapping. As a foundation model, CytoNet offers a consistent
framework for studying cortical microarchitecture,
supporting analyses of its relationship with other
structural and functional brain features, and paving the way
for diverse neuroscientific investigations.},
keywords = {Neurons and Cognition (q-bio.NC) (Other) / Artificial
Intelligence (cs.AI) (Other) / Machine Learning (cs.LG)
(Other) / FOS: Biological sciences (Other) / FOS: Computer
and information sciences (Other) / I.2.6; I.2.10; I.4.7;
I.5.1; I.5.4 (Other)},
cin = {INM-1},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)INM-1-20090406},
pnm = {5251 - Multilevel Brain Organization and Variability
(POF4-525) / EBRAINS 2.0 - EBRAINS 2.0: A Research
Infrastructure to Advance Neuroscience and Brain Health
(101147319) / JL SMHB - Joint Lab Supercomputing and
Modeling for the Human Brain (JL SMHB-2021-2027) / HIBALL -
Helmholtz International BigBrain Analytics and Learning
Laboratory (HIBALL) (InterLabs-0015) / X-BRAIN
(ZT-I-PF-4-061) / DFG project G:(GEPRIS)501864659 -
NFDI4BIOIMAGE - Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur für
Mikroskopie und Bildanalyse (501864659)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-5251 / G:(EU-Grant)101147319 /
G:(DE-Juel1)JL SMHB-2021-2027 / G:(DE-HGF)InterLabs-0015 /
G:(DE-HGF)ZT-I-PF-4-061 / G:(GEPRIS)501864659},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)25},
doi = {10.48550/ARXIV.2511.01870},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1048160},
}