Tangential distribution

For virtual/anatomical regions: Use to obtain data about length and distribution.

How it works

In Neurolucida, draw a closed contour in the XY plane around the neuron you want to analyze. The contour's Z coordinate doesn't matter.

In Neurolucida Explorer, the contour is treated as a 3D volume divided into equal size analysis bins. The volume's depth is infinite in Z. The bins are generated along the long axis of the contour, or along the X or Y axis.

Procedure

1. Select the contour, cell body, and trees.
2. Select Analyze>Neuron data>Anatomical and open the Tangential Distribution Analysis window.
   • Select the branched structure type to analyze and click Display. The Tangential Distribution Information window appears.

     Bin Size: Length of the bin.

     Center First Bin About Soma: If checked, the first bin is centered at the center point of the cell body; if unchecked, the first bin is based on the contour.

     Automatic Orientation With Contour: The bins are created along the long axis of the closed contour. Width Modifications is enabled.

     Bins Parallel to X/Y-axis: The bins are arranged along the specified axis.

     Rotate the data set to the appropriate orientation before conducting the analysis.

Analysis results

• Start: Beginning of the bin.
• End:  End of the bin.
• Length:  Length of the trees within a given bin.
• Percent:  Percentage of all the trees in a given bin.

Reference

Bender, K. J., Rangel, J., & Feldman, D. E. (2003). Development of Columnar Topography in the Excitatory Layer 4 to Layer 2/3 Projection in Rat Barrel Cortex. The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 23(25), 8759–8770.