Validation of plaster endocast morphology through 3D CT image analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID8317274
AuthorsP Thomas Schoenemann (University of Michigan–Dearborn, corresponding author), James C Gee (0000-0002-2258-0187, University of Pennsylvania), James Gee, Brian Avants (0000-0002-4212-3362, University of Pennsylvania), Ralph L Holloway (Columbia University), Janet Monge (0000-0002-4364-6296, University of Pennsylvania), Jason Lewis (0000-0001-8325-1128, Stanford University)
Year2007
Volume132
Issue2
Pages183-192
Publication date2007-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.20499
PMID17103425
OpenAlexW2149199004
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited40

A crucial component of research on brain evolution has been the comparison of fossil endocranial surfaces with modern human and primate endocrania. The latter have generally been obtained by creating endocasts out of rubber latex shells filled with plaster. The extent to which the method of production introduces errors in endocast replicas is unknown. We demonstrate a powerful method of comparing complex shapes in 3‐dimensions (3D) that is broadly applicable to a wide range of paleoanthropological questions. Pairs of virtual endocasts (VEs) created from high‐resolution CT scans of corresponding latex/plaster endocasts and their associated crania were rigidly registered (aligned) in 3D space for two Homo sapiens and two Pan troglodytes specimens. Distances between each cranial VE and its corresponding latex/plaster VE were then mapped on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis. The results show that between 79.7% and 91.0% of the voxels in the four latex/plaster VEs are within 2 mm of their corresponding cranial VEs surfaces. The average error is relatively small, and variation in the pattern of error across the surfaces appears to be generally random overall. However, inferior areas around the cranial base and the temporal poles were somewhat overestimated in both human and chimpanzee specimens, and the area overlaying Broca's area in humans was somewhat underestimated. This study gives an idea of the size of possible error inherent in latex/plaster endocasts, indicating the level of confidence we can have with studies relying on comparisons between them and, e.g., hominid fossil endocasts. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Archaeology · Biology · Crania · Endocast · Evolutionary biology · Geography · Homo sapiens · Paleoanthropology · Primate · Skull · Voxel · Anatomy · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Geology · Morphological variations and asymmetry · Paleontology · Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology