A computer aided simulation of an electrode penetration into deep brain structures

An interactive computer graphics program has been designed for simulating the penetration of a microelectrode into the medial geniculate body (MGB) model of the squirrel-monkey. This program enables us to obtain a perspective 3-D plot of the MGB model, viewed from any selected spatial point and to reconstruct from it sections in any plane. A preselected or reconstructed penetration tract can thus be graphically described, superimposed on any selected plane which contains the electrode. The program can be used on line, when fast selection or reconstruction of a probe location is required under surgical or experimental conditions.