A 3D MRI-based atlas of a lizard brain
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an established technique for neuroanatomical analysis, being particularly useful in the medical sciences. However, the application of MRI to evolutionary neuroscience is still in its infancy. Few magnetic resonance brain atlases exist outside the standard model organisms in neuroscience and no magnetic resonance atlas has been produced for any reptile brain. A detailed understanding of reptilian brain anatomy is necessary to elucidate the evolutionary origin of enigmatic brain structures such as the cerebral cortex. Here, we present a magnetic resonance atlas for the brain of a representative squamate reptile, the Australian tawny dragon (Agamidae: Ctenophorus decresii), which has been the subject of numerous ecological and behavioral studies. We used a high‐field 11.74T magnet, a paramagnetic contrasting‐enhancing agent and minimum‐deformation modeling of the brains of thirteen adult male individuals. From this, we created a high‐resolution three‐dimensional model of a lizard brain. The 3D‐MRI model can be freely downloaded and allows a better comprehension of brain areas, nuclei, and fiber tracts, facilitating comparison with other species and setting the basis for future comparative evolution imaging studies. The MRI model and atlas of a tawny dragon brain (Ctenophorus decresii) can be viewed online and downloaded using the Wiley Biolucida Server at wiley.biolucida.net. ; D.H. was supported by grants from the Government of Australia (APA#31/2011, IPRS#1182/2010), the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (PGSD3-415253-2012), the Quebec Nature and Technology Research Fund (208332), and the National Imaging Facility of Australia (Subsidized Access Grant). E.D. and L.M. were supported by grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (BFU2015-68537-R). E.D. and L.M. are Serra Húnter Fellows. M.J.W. and J.S.K. were supported by Australian Research Council Grants DP130102998 and DP150102403 respectively