Box-counting and multifractal analysis in neuronal and glial classification

Abstract

Fractal analysis in the neurosciences has advanced over the past twenty years. The fractal dimension, besides its ability to discriminate among different cell types, can work as a reliable parameter in cell classification. A qualitative analysis of the morphology of neurons and glia cell types involves a detailed description of the structure and features of cells, and accordingly, their classification into defined classes and types. This paper outlines how fractal analysis can be used for further quantitative classification of these cell types using box-counting and multifractal analysis.