Skip to content

Skull strip the T1 image

Michelle Voss edited this page Oct 26, 2023 · 7 revisions

By the end of this practical you should be able to complete preprocessing on your data with the following steps:

  • use FSL's bet tool to remove the brain from a T1 image
  • use FSLeyes to check the output of bet

Access FastX through the remote login:
https://fastx.divms.uiowa.edu:3443/

In the terminal move to the folder where our downloaded data is:

  • A the terminal prompt type: cd fmriLab
  • Type ls and you should see the data you downloaded as a folder named flankerData_n4

Using FSL's brain extraction tool to skull-strip:

  • At the prompt type fsl
  • Click the "BET brain extraction" button on the FSL menu
  • Steps to set up BET
    • Click the yellow folder to select your defaced T1 image with skull as your Input Image
    • FSL will automatically fill in the Output Image to have the same file name as your T1 with _brain at the end
    • Expand Advanced Options
      • Select Output binary brain mask image
    • Select Go to run BET
  • Example default settings
    betDefault

**Checking BET:**
* Use the GUI menu to open your defaced T1 and brain mask in FSLeyes * Use the `Opacity` slider to make the mask transparent so you can see the brain image in the background * Checklist * [ ] Top of the brain: does the mask cover the brain and not spill into the eyes or skull? * [ ] Bottom of the brain: does the mask "hug" the brainstem or spill into the throat?
**Modifying BET settings:**
* Open or go back to the BET GUI * An advanced option that always helps: Use the dropdown menu to select `Robust brain centre estimation` * If your mask was too small or large at the top of the brain, change the `Fractional intensity threshold` * If your mask was too small or large at either the top or the bottom of the brain, change the `Threshold gradient` ![betMods](https://github.com/mwvoss/PSY4025_FA23/assets/24663988/5b5a6a4f-fffb-4a25-8920-c1c52e6e6839)

Clone this wiki locally