The AAL-VOIs atlas is the automatic anatomical labeling result [5] of the spatially normalized, single subject, high resolution T1 MRI data set provided by the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI)[6]. It includes 120 structure definitions. By merging some small structures an AAL-Merged atlas was created. Both AAL-VOIs and AAL-Merged can be used alternatively to the N30R83 atlas. There is a slight asymmetry in the AAL VOIs which corresponds to the natural asymmetry of normal brains and which is also part of the MNI template.
In general, it should be noted that from a theoretical point of view a maximum probability atlas is preferable, because it accounts for the normal variation of the human brain anatomy.
The following 120 brain structures are included in the AAL-VOIs atlas. The first column indicates the label number, the second the name and abbreviation). For paired structures the first and second numbers refer to the left and right part, respectively.
Temporal Lobe |
|
37; 38 |
Hippocampus (HIP) |
Posterior Fossa |
|
91; 92 |
Cerebellum crus 1 |
Insula and Cingulate Gyri |
|
29; 30 |
Insula (IN) |
Frontal Lobe |
|
1; 2 |
Precentral gyrus (PRE) |
Occipital Lobe |
|
43; 44 |
Calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex (V1) |
Parietal Lobe |
|
57; 58 |
Postcentral gyrus (POST) |
Central Structures |
|
53; 54 |
Caudate nucleus (CAU) |
The following 71 brain structures are covered the AAL-Merged atlas. For paired structures the first and second numbers refer to the left and right part, respectively.
Temporal Lobe |
|
65; 66 |
Temporal, superior, mid, inferior, poles (T1, T1A, T2, T2A, T3) |
Posterior Fossa |
|
67 |
Vermis |
Insula and Cingulate Gyri |
|
19; 20 |
Insula (IN) |
Frontal Lobe |
|
1; 2 |
Precentral gyrus (PRE) |
Occipital Lobe |
|
31; 32 |
Calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex (V1) |
Parietal Lobe |
|
41; 42 |
Postcentral gyrus (POST) |
Central Structures |
|
53; 54 |
Caudate nucleus (CAU) |
In comparison to the the original AAL atlas the following subregions were pooled: