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@INPROCEEDINGS{Lothmann:1048760,
author = {Lothmann, Kimberley and Schiffer, Christian and Dickscheid,
Timo and Amunts, Katrin},
title = {{G}oing 3{D} with {AI}: {F}ull 3{D} {R}econstructions of
{C}ytoarchitectonic {M}aps in {B}ig{B}rain},
reportid = {FZJ-2025-04875},
year = {2025},
abstract = {<b>Introduction:</b><br>As part of the Julich-Brain Atlas
(Amunts et al., 2020), the BigBrain dataset (Amunts et al.,
2013) provides the first ultrahigh-resolution 3D model of
the human brain at 20 μm isotropic resolution,
reconstructed from 7,404 histological sections. It enables
cytoarchitectonic mapping at a level of detail that bridges
microscopic organization with macroscale imaging.
Traditionally, areas have been delineated on 2D sections,
limiting their integration into 3D brain reference
spaces.<br><br><b>Methods:</b><br>We developed a hybrid
workflow combining expert identification of cortical areas
with deep learningbased 3D reconstruction. Using the ATLaSUI
interface (Schiffer et al., 2021), neuroscientists annotated
every 10th – 15th histological section, providing training
data for the CytoNet model (manuscript in preparation).
CytoNet infers cortical layer continuity and areal
boundaries between annotated sections, avoiding geometric
interpolation and preserving cytoarchitectonic detail.
Largescale model inference and reconstruction were performed
on the JURECA-DC supercomputer (Jülich Supercomputing
Centre).<br><br><b>Results:</b><br>Currently, 33 cortical
BigBrain areas are publicly available through the siibra
tool suite and EBRAINS Knowledge Graph. An additional 56
cortical areas, including eight newly mapped regions, were
reconstructed at 20 μm resolution, expanding the
Julich-Brain Atlas to a total of 98 BigBrain areas. All maps
will be openly accessible via EBRAINS, enabling interactive
and programmatic exploration within a unified reference
framework.<br><br><b>Discussion:</b><br>Since areas were
reconstructed independently, minor overlaps can occur at
region borders, especially in highly folded cortical zones.
Sampling every 10th – 15th section may also introduce
interpolation artifacts in regions with steep
cytoarchitectonic transitions. Future work will focus on
multi-area optimization to reduce boundary inconsistencies
and improve 3D continuity. These ongoing developments
advance the integration of microstructural and macroscale
brain data within a coherent human brain reference
space.<br><br><b>Keywords:</b> BigBrain, Julich Brain Atlas,
Cytoarchitecture, 3D Reconstruction, Deep Learning, Human
Brain Atlas, EBRAINS<br><br><b>References</b><br>Amunts K,
Lepage C, Borgeat L, et al. BigBrain: An
ultrahigh-resolution 3D human brain model. Science.
2013;340(6139):1472-1475.
doi:10.1126/science.1235381<br>Amunts K, Mohlberg H, Bludau
S, Zilles K. Julich-Brain: A 3D probabilistic atlas of the
human brain’s cytoarchitecture. Science.
2020;369(6506):988-992.
doi:10.1126/science.abb4588<br>Schiffer C, Spitzer H, Kiwitz
K, et al. Convolutional neural networks for
cytoarchitectonic brain mapping at large scale. Neuroimage.
2021;240:118327.
doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118327<br><br><b>Acknowledgments:</b><br>This
project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon
2020 Research and InnovationProgramme, grant agreement
101147319 (EBRAINS 2.0 Project), the Helmholtz Association
portfolio theme “Supercomputing and Modeling for the Human
Brain”, the Helmholtz Association’sInitiative and
Networking Fund through the Helmholtz International BigBrain
Analytics and LearningLaboratory (HIBALL) under the
Helmholtz International Lab grant agreement InterLabs-0015,
fromHELMHOLTZ IMAGING, a platform of the Helmholtz
Information $\\&$ Data Science Incubator [XBRAIN, grant
number: ZT-I-PF-4-061], and from the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG,German Research Foundation)
under the National Research Data Infrastructure – NFDI
46/1 –501864659.},
month = {Dec},
date = {2025-12-08},
organization = {EBRAINS summit 2025, Brüssel
(Belgien), 8 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025},
subtyp = {After Call},
cin = {INM-1},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)INM-1-20090406},
pnm = {5254 - Neuroscientific Data Analytics and AI (POF4-525) /
5251 - Multilevel Brain Organization and Variability
(POF4-525) / EBRAINS 2.0 - EBRAINS 2.0: A Research
Infrastructure to Advance Neuroscience and Brain Health
(101147319) / HIBALL - Helmholtz International BigBrain
Analytics and Learning Laboratory (HIBALL) (InterLabs-0015)
/ JL SMHB - Joint Lab Supercomputing and Modeling for the
Human Brain (JL SMHB-2021-2027) / X-BRAIN (ZT-I-PF-4-061) /
DFG project G:(GEPRIS)501864659 - NFDI4BIOIMAGE - Nationale
Forschungsdateninfrastruktur für Mikroskopie und
Bildanalyse (501864659)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-5254 / G:(DE-HGF)POF4-5251 /
G:(EU-Grant)101147319 / G:(DE-HGF)InterLabs-0015 /
G:(DE-Juel1)JL SMHB-2021-2027 / G:(DE-HGF)ZT-I-PF-4-061 /
G:(GEPRIS)501864659},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)24},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1048760},
}