A FAIR, Open-source Virtual Reality Platform for Dendritic Spine Analysis

Overview

Journal Patterns (N Y)

Date 2024 Nov 21

PMID 39568639

Authors

Marike L Reimer

Sierra D Kauer

Curtis A Benson

Jared F King

Siraj Patwa

Sarah Feng

Maile A Estacion

Lakshmi Bangalore

Stephen G Waxman

Andrew M Tan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neuroanatomy is fundamental to understanding the nervous system, particularly dendritic spines, which are vital for synaptic transmission and change in response to injury or disease. Advancements in imaging have allowed for detailed three-dimensional (3D) visualization of these structures. However, existing tools for analyzing dendritic spine morphology are limited. To address this, we developed an open-source virtual reality (VR) structural analysis software ecosystem (coined "VR-SASE") that offers a powerful, intuitive approach for analyzing dendritic spines. Our validation process confirmed the method's superior accuracy, outperforming recognized gold-standard neural reconstruction techniques. Importantly, the VR-SASE workflow automatically calculates key morphological metrics, such as dendritic spine length, volume, and surface area, and reliably replicates established datasets from published dendritic spine studies. By integrating the Neurodata Without Borders (NWB) data standard, VR-SASE datasets can be preserved/distributed through DANDI Archives, satisfying the NIH data sharing mandate.

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