Working Group 1 
Brainstem Mapping (Atlases & post-mortem validation)

Key objectives of the Working Group
a) provide an overview of existing probabilistic atlases for the brainstem,
b) improve access to specialized neuroanatomical knowledge of the brainstem,
c) establish a research platform supporting the development of new post mortem validated submillimeter resolution 3D probabilistic atlases of brainstem structures in diverse populations in vivo.

Current Goals

Harmonization → landscaping the tools available for atlasing the brainstem

Project 1
→ Overview of the individual nuclei of the brainstem
→ Comparison of volumetric data
→ Defining the knowledge gaps
→ Creation of an overview/roadmap paper

Project 2
→ Overview of available brainstem atlases for MRI research
→ Comparisons of these atlases
→ Defining the knowledge gaps
→ Creation of an overview/roadmap paper

Supporting education and knowledge sharing → bringing together information on individual brainstem nuclei in a structured manner (input for information clips/blended learning/brainstem tutorials)

Project 3
→ Using the overview of the brainstem structures, bring together individual data on each structure
→ Bring together all information in a structured manner; use this information to create a database of knowledge clips
→ Create a one-stop shop for the information you would like to have when studying the brainstem
→ Will be presented in a publication to the scientific field

Project 4
What nuclei are not described beyond histological reports?
→ This information will follow from the other plans and will be funneled into a roadmap paper (perhaps combined with the structures that are already mapped)

Project 5
Development of a research platform supporting the development of atlases in diverse populations in vivo
→ Gather relevant datasets for the creation and validation of brainstem atlases
→ This information will be gathered in a roadmap-type paper

Possible project
Writing a paper explaining the difficulties translating histological findings to in vivo imaging
→ Spatial anchoring of brainstem atlases in a shared 3D space