BigMac overview
The BigMac Dataset is an open access resource combining in vivo MRI, extensive postmortem MRI and multi-contrast microscopy for multimodal characterisation of a single, whole macaque brain. Here we provide a detailed over view of the available data, as well as some basic Tutorials to demonstrate how to manipulate or compare data from the various modalities.
For more detail and example analyses afforded by BigMac, check out the paper documenting the first release of the data here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39916-1.
Citation: Howard, A.F.D. et al. An open resource combining multi-contrast MRI and microscopy in the macaque brain. Nature Communications 14, 4320 (2023), doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39916-1.
The data in brief
The in vivo MRI includes resting state fMRI, task fMRI, structural and diffusion MRI acquired across different scan sessions. The postmortem MRI includes structural MRI, T1 maps and diffusion-weighted MRI at 0.6mm resolution (b = 4 ms/μm2 with 128 gradient directions) and 1.0mm (b = 4,7,10 ms/μm2 with 250, 1000, 1000 directions). Further there is 1mm data with multiple tensor encoding (linear and spherical) at b = 4,7,10 ms/μm2 for more advanced microstructural modelling. After scanning the brain was sectioned in two blocks (anterior/posterior). Here we provide Polarised Light Images (PLI) and myelin stained histology (Gallyas silver staining) with data spanning the full brain. The microscopy and MRI data have been coregistered, where we provide warpfields to map each 2D microscopy slide to the 3D MRI. Additional microscopy data will be added in future releases.
Tips for getting started
Find out more about the data via the In vivo MRI, Postmortem MRI and Microscopy tabs.
Follow links in Data & code availability to download the data. Here you can also find out about the different files provided through the file tree. Note, example data are available to view online via the Digital Brain Bank (where the data is hosted).
Check out the Tutorials on how to map between the MRI and microscopy domains using TIRL.
Contact us
Any questions, comments, requests or ideas for collaboration, please reach out to Amy Howard: https://www.win.ox.ac.uk/people/amy-howard amy.howard@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
