BIC Defacing Algorithm

Public distribution of imaging information from several MRI data processing projects at the BIC has lead to the development of this DEFACING algorithm that is used as part of anonymisation process. Key features of the algorithm include: the defacing should modify voxels associated with face of the subject, making a rendering of the face unrecognisable, it should work on data in the native scanner space and it should not significantly affect subsequent data processing outcome (model based registration, brain extraction, brain tissue classification and brain segmentation). The algorithm is implemented using the MINC library and source code is publicly available. The effect of the defacing algorithm on the data processing was verified using the ICBM database of 152 scans of young adults.