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A fast diffeomorphic image registration algorithm
John Ashburner. NeuroImage, 2007-07-19
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
This paper describes DARTEL, an algorithm for diffeomorphic image registration implemented for both 2D and 3D images with an option for estimating inverse consistent deformations. The study formulates nonlinear registration as a local optimisation problem solved using a Levenberg-Marquardt strategy and a multigrid method. DARTEL was applied to intersubject registration of whole brain images to evaluate how well the resulting deformations encode shape information for separating male and female subjects and predicting their ages.
Key findings
- This paper describes DARTEL, which is an algorithm for diffeomorphic image registration.
- Nonlinear registration is considered as a local optimisation problem, which is solved using a Levenberg-Marquardt strategy.
- A constant Eulerian velocity framework is used, which allows a rapid scaling and squaring method to be used in the computations.
- DARTEL has been applied to intersubject registration of 471 whole brain images, and the resulting deformations were evaluated in terms of how well they encode the shape information necessary to separate male and female subjects and to predict the ages of the subjects.
Why it matters
Describes a fast diffeomorphic image registration algorithm, a computer method for aligning images.
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How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on strength of evidence, so that was left out: it earned 49 of the 95 points we could judge it on, which is 52 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (NeuroImage) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | NeuroImage: journal h-index 523 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | — / 5 | No evidence rating recorded — left out of this score |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 8,182 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 389.6 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 97.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 1,386 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author John Ashburner: h-index 95 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging: institution h-index 419 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17761438) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 49 / 95 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 49 of the 95 points we could judge it on is 52 out of 100. |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ashburner, J. (2007). A fast diffeomorphic image registration algorithm. NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.07.007
Vancouver
Ashburner J. A fast diffeomorphic image registration algorithm. NeuroImage. 2007. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.07.007. PMID: 17761438.
BibTeX
@article{ashburner2007-17761438,
author = {Ashburner, John},
title = {{A fast diffeomorphic image registration algorithm}},
journal = {NeuroImage},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.07.007},
pmid = {17761438},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.07.007}
}