MIST: A multi-resolution parcellation of functional brain networks

Abstract

The functional architecture of the brain is organized across multiple levels of spatial resolutions, from distributed networks to the localized areas they are made of. A brain parcellation that defines functional nodes at multiple resolutions is required to investigate the functional connectome across these scales. Here we present the Multiresolution Intrinsic Segmentation Template (MIST), a multi-resolution group level parcellation of the cortical, subcortical and cerebellar gray matter. The individual MIST parcellations match other published group parcellations in internal homogeneity and reproducibility and perform very well in real-world application benchmarks. In addition, the MIST parcellations are fully annotated and provide a hierarchical decomposition of functional brain networks across nine resolutions (7 to 444 functional parcels). We hope that the MIST parcellation will accelerate research in brain connectivity across resolutions. Because visualizing multiresolution parcellations is challenging, we provide an interactive web interface to explore the MIST. The MIST is also available through the popular nilearn toolbox.