EPISeg: Automatic Segmentation of Spinal Cord fMRI Data

Motivation: Spinal cord fMRI holds promise for somatosensory and motor research, but challenges in data acquisition and preprocessing limit its potential. Goal(s): Develop an automated segmentation tool for spinal cord fMRI data that minimizes manual intervention and improves segmentation accuracy which is important for data analysis. Approach: We introduce EPISeg, a deep learning-based segmentation method trained on an open-source multi-site dataset of 406 subjects using active learning with human-in-the-loop feedback. Results: EPISeg outperformed established methods like PropSeg, DeepSeg, and a Contrast-agnostic model, achieving a Dice score of 0.88. Impact: EPISeg significantly enhances spinal fMRI research by enabling automated, accurate segmentations of EPI data, overcoming limitations of manual segmentation. Its integration into SCT broadens accessibility and reproducibility, facilitating robust group-level analyses essential for advancing studies of spinal processes and disorders.