Improved segmentation of neonatal brain MRI scans by addressing motion artifacts with data interpolation

negatively affect segmentation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether motion-affected slices can be replaced by interpolated slices to enhance segmentation of neonatal brain MRI scans. METHODS: From August 2017 to November 2019, moderate-late preterm infants were enrolled in a prospective cohort study entitled Brain Imaging in Moderate-late Preterm infants (BIMP-study). Around term equivalent age, MRI of the brain was performed using a 3 Tesla MRI. T2-weighed (voxel size 0.35x0.35x2mm) transverse images were automatically segmented into eight brain structures with a neonatal segmentation toolbox [1]. Upon visual inspection, scans with motion artifacts that affected segmentation (25/112; motion group) and scans without motion artifacts (27/112; control group) were selected and used for analysis. Slices with motion artifacts were re-estimated using shape-preserving cubic spline interpolation [2, 3], followed by automatic segmentation of the interpolated scan. Analysis was performed in three stages. Firstly, scans from the control group were used to test interpolation reliability: 18/54 axial slices of these scans were interpolated. Segmentation results of uninterpolated and interpolated scans were compared using the Sørensen-Dice coefficient. Secondly, uninterpolated and interpolated volumes of the motion group were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test. Thirdly, interpolated volumes of the motion group were compared to uninterpolated volumes of the control group using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: In the control group, Sørensen-Dice coefficients ranged between 0.87 and 0.97. In the motion group, interpolation resulted in a significant decrease of cortical (Z=-2.9, p=0.004) and deep gray matter (Z=-3.30, p<0.001), and a significant increase of white matter (Z=2.84, p=0.005) volumes. No significant differences were found between interpolated volumes of the motion group and uninterpolated volumes of the control group. CONCLUSION: Shape preserving cubic spline interpolation enables reliable segmentation of motion-affected MRI scans in moderate-late preterm infants

Is there evidence of learned helplessness in horses?

Learned helplessness can be defined as a psychological condition whereby individuals learn that they have no control over unpleasant or harmful conditions, that their actions are futile and that they are helpless. In a series of experiments in which dogs were exposed to inescapable shocks it was found that this lack of control subsequently interfered with the ability to learn an avoidance task. There is evidence that both neural adaptations and behavioural despair occur in response to uncontrollable aversive experiences in rodents, although this has yet to be demonstrated in other species such as horses. However, it has been suggested that certain traditional methods of horse training and some behavioral modification techniques may involve aversive conditions over which the horse has little or no control. When training and management procedures are repeatedly unpleasant for the horse and there is no clear association between behavior and outcome, this is likely to interfere with learning and performance, in addition to compromising welfare. This paper reviews published literature and anecdotal evidence to explore the possibility that the phenomenon learned helplessness occurs in the horse.<br/