Brain shape as a biometric

Abstract

The invention provides a method, system, and program product for identifying an individual using biometric data based on the individual's brain. In one embodiment, the invention includes constructing a biometric signature based on at least one of: features within a two-dimensional scan of the individual's brain and a difference in features between at least two two-dimensional scans of the individual's brain.

1 . A method for identifying an individual using biometric data, the method comprising: 
 obtaining biometric data associated with the brain of an individual using a non-invasive measurement technique;    extracting characteristics from the biometric data using a feature extraction technique;    comparing the extracted characteristics with other characteristics, stored in a database, extracted from other biometric data; and    determining whether the extracted characteristics match characteristics stored in the database.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric data includes geometric measurements.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the geometric measurements are based on a folding pattern of at least one of the following: the cerebrum and the cerebellum.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the geometric measurements include at least one of the following: fold connectivity information and fold depths.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the geometric measurements are based on at least one of the following: a two-dimensional image of the brain and a three-dimensional image of the brain.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 aligning the geometric measurements in a standard coordinate frame using a canonicalization process.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the feature extraction technique computes at least one of the following: global characteristics of the geometric measurements and local characteristics of the geometric measurements.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining includes obtaining the biometric data in a known coordinate frame using a registration technique.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric data includes behavioral measurements.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the behavioral measurements are based on differential metabolic activity.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the behavioral measurements are recorded in response to a stimulus.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the behavioral measurements are based on a changing pattern of region activations over time.  
   
   
       13 . A system for identifying an individual using biometric data, the system comprising: 
 a system for obtaining biometric data associated with the brain of an individual using a non-invasive measurement technique;    a system for extracting characteristics from the biometric data using a feature extraction technique;    a system for comparing the extracted characteristics with other characteristics, stored in a database, extracted from other biometric data; and    a system for determining whether the extracted characteristics match characteristics stored in the database.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the biometric data includes geometric measurements based on a folding pattern of at least one of the following: the cerebrum and the cerebellum.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system for obtaining biometric data includes a system for obtaining the biometric data in a known coordinate frame using a registration technique.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the biometric data includes behavioral measurements based on differential metabolic activity.  
   
   
       17 . A program product stored on a computer-readable medium, which when executed, attempts to identify an individual using biometric data, the program product comprising: 
 program code for obtaining biometric data associated with the brain of an individual using a non-invasive measurement technique;    program code for extracting characteristics from the biometric data using a feature extraction technique;    program code for comparing the extracted characteristics with other characteristics, stored in a database, from other biometric data; and    program code for determining whether the extracted characteristics match characteristics stored in the database.    
   
   
       18 . The program product of  claim 17 , wherein the biometric data includes geometric measurements based on a folding pattern of at least one of the following: the cerebrum and the cerebellum.  
   
   
       19 . The program product of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 program code for aligning the measurements in a standard coordinate frame using a canonicalization process.    
   
   
       20 . The program product of  claim 17 , wherein the biometric data includes behavioral measurements based on differential metabolic activity.  
   
   
       21 . A method for deploying an application for identifying an individual using biometric data, comprising: 
 providing a computer infrastructure being operable to: 
 obtain biometric data associated with the brain of an individual using a non-invasive measurement technique;  
 extract characteristics from the biometric data using a feature extraction technique;  
 compare the extracted characteristics with other characteristics, stored in a database, from other biometric data; and  
 determine whether the extracted characteristics match characteristics stored in the database.