Week #15

Adv, Exp VFX Animation and Techniques.
Blog WK#15 (May 11), Maya: Neuronal Modelling

My First Single Cell Neuronal Modelling Effort

As on the left, I was able to use the reference IMG below (in L frame) to make a 3D model of a pyramidal cell. I did this during my week of no-internet-access, thus I wasnt able to benefit from the Andrew Tran tutorial (2014), which I now plan to use for modelling the second reference IMG below (right frame). The animated modelling effort, as per the GIF on the immediate left marches through 6 stages of the modelling, beginning with simple introduction of a polygon cylinder atop the reference IMG and then reshaping of the cylinder to approximate the pyramidal cell body typical of pyramidal hippocampal cell bodies (with a couple dendritic braches), to then more fully acquire the dendrite and axonal arborization typical of a full pyramidal cell.

Reference Images

As addressed in Blog WK#13, my maya neuron cell modelling is oriented toward a reasonable degree of neuroanatomical accuracy for a very specific human neuron, the hippocampal pyramidal cell. As below, I was able to find a couple human hippocampal pyramidal cell photomicrographs. As summarized above, for my first effort, the L frame below was used as a reference image (neuromorph.org).

 Integration of Micro and Macro

The ultimate goal for the single cell modelling is to have 2-3 cell closeups (i.e. as above) that I will integrate with my model of the hippocampus as done in the first term. These will be composited with intent to address issues of changing the degree of focus clarity and changes in perspective (Obscene Angles, 2019) as the camera meanders through a scene of scattered hippocampal pyramidal cells that serve as a backdrop to a macrostructural model of the hippocampus (my model from term#1 is to the R). Eventually, this combination of pyramidal cells and the full hippocampus will be oriented toward generating an artistic 3D immersion for the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit (Yoshida et al, 2018, Stepan et al, 2012).

Neuronal Cell Tutorials

From prior blog entries, a Maya “neuronal network” tutorial by McDougall (2018) was reviewed and identified to potentially serve as a tutorial from which to initiate my maya neuron cell modelling effort. Upon further review, this tutorial is perhaps helpful as a reference for animating an action potential (the neuronal cell firing), but it is actually a poor tutorial to serve as a guide for modelling the architecture of a neutron. The issue of capturing and portraying more realistic human neuron cell anatomy was available in a tutorial by Andrew Tran (2012). My initial effort w this modelling tutorial is displayed in the screen recording below.

Outcome of First Modelling Effort

As per the screen recording below (and the GIF at the start of the blog), the initial effort to make a pyramidal cell skeleton was reasonably successful. There is always room for improvement, but this result certainly warrants continuation with the next phase, which is addition of the dendritic spines, (this step is outlined in the tutorial by Andrew Tran).

Bibliography

Human Pyramidal cell, http://neuromorpho.org/byspecies.jsp

McDougall E, (2018). Animate Lighting using MASH in Maya: Medical Tutorial: Neurons.

Obscene Angles (2019). Maya Focus Pull with Null or Locator Tutorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPHJGnvzuNU

Stepan J, Dine J, Fenzi T, Polta SA, Wolff GV, Wotjak CT, Eder M, (2012). Entorhinal theta-frequency input to the dentate gyrus trisynaptically evokes hippocampal CA1 LTP. Frontiers in Neural Circuitry, available at doi: 10.3389/fncir.2012.00064

Tran A, (2014). Modeling Neurons in Maya. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhHlelGB1qE

Yoshida S, Kato-Negishi M, Takeuchi S, (2018). Assembly and Connection of Micropatterned Single Neurons for Neuronal Network Formation. available at doi:10.3390/mi9050235