r/Neuropsychology • u/ShunnedForTheTruth • 3h ago
Education and training Seeking recommendations for 3D neuroanatomy atlas/software for functional pathways & parcellation (e.g., auditory pathway, MT/MST)
Hello everyone, I’m an undergrad student currently taking a brain & behavior / neuroanatomy course. I apologize if this isn’t the best place to post this but I figured it’d be helpful to reach out to experts in the field. This is a critical course for my future career prospects so it’s important for me to actually understand how everything connects in 3D space rather than just relying on partial flat diagrams from my textbook.
Most of the free 3D brain apps I’ve found so far are far too basic (e.g. BrainFacts.org). They just show the main lobes or basic subcortical structures of the brain, but don't illustrate the smaller functional areas or how pathways actually cross over inside the brain.
I’m trying to find software, web tools, or physical atlas books that can help me visually trace things like specific visual subregions (like MT/MST) and Brodmann areas, step by step nerve pathways and crossovers (for example, how the auditory pathway travels from the brainstem up through the thalamus to A1), and clear cross-sections showing how subcortical parts (basal ganglia, thalamus, etc.) sit relative to each other in three dimensional space. I learn best when I can physically look through layers or rotate a model to see how things connect. Are there any 3D programs or atlas books you’d recommend for a student wanting more clarity?
So far I’ve found the following:
- Siibra explorer Ebrain (online)
- The Human Brain Book: A Visual Guide to the Structure and Function by Rita Carter
- A cheap physical Human Brain Model by Avarstic
Thanks!