Fractal dimension of phylogenetically different parts of the human cerebellum (magnetic resonance imaging study)

  • N.I. Maryenko Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
  • O.Yu. Stepanenko Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Keywords: fractal analysis, cerebellum, magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract

In recent years, fractal analysis has been increasingly used as a morphometric method, which allows to assess the complexity of the organization of quasi-fractal biological structures, including the cerebellum. The aim of the study was to determine the value of fractal dimension of phylogenetically different parts of the cerebellum by studying magnetic resonance imaging of the brain using the method of pixel dilation and to identify gender and age characteristics of individual variability of fractal dimension of the cerebellum and its external linear contour. The study was performed on the magnetic resonance images of the brain of 120 relatively healthy patients in age 18-86 years (65 women, 55 men). T2 weighted tomographic images were investigated. Fractal analysis was performed using the method of pixel dilation in the author’s modification. Fractal dimension (FD) values were determined for cerebellar tomographic images segmented with brightness values of 100 (FD100), 90 (FD90) and in the range of 100-90 (FD100-90 or fractal dimension of the outer cerebellar contour) in its upper and lower lobes, which include phylogenetically different zones. The obtained data were processed using generally accepted statistical methods. The average value of FD100 of the upper lobe of the cerebellum was 1.816±0.005, the lower lobe – 1.855±0.005. The average value of FD90 of the upper lobe of the cerebellum was 1.734±009, the lower lobe – 1.768±0.009. The average value of FD100-90 of the upper lobe of the cerebellum was 1.370±0.009, the lower lobe – 1.431±0.008. All three values of the fractal dimension of the lower lobe, which lobules have a lower phylogenetic age, are statistically significantly higher than the corresponding values of the fractal dimension of the upper lobe, have a more pronounced correlation with age than in the upper lobe. The developed research algorithm can be used to assess the condition of the cerebellum as an additional morphometric method during magnetic resonance imaging study of the brain.

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References

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Published
2020-10-12
How to Cite
Maryenko, N., & Stepanenko, O. (2020). Fractal dimension of phylogenetically different parts of the human cerebellum (magnetic resonance imaging study). Reports of Morphology, 26(2), 67-73. https://doi.org/10.31393/morphology-journal-2020-26(2)-10