Use of pattern recognition and neural networks for non-metric sex diagnosis from lateral shape of calvarium: an innovative model for computer-aided diagnosis in forensic and physical anthropology

Int J Legal Med. 2017 May;131(3):823-833. doi: 10.1007/s00414-016-1439-8. Epub 2016 Aug 29.

Abstract

Sex determination on skeletal remains is one of the most important diagnosis in forensic cases and in demographic studies on ancient populations. Our purpose is to realize an automatic operator-independent method to determine the sex from the bone shape and to test an intelligent, automatic pattern recognition system in an anthropological domain. Our multiple-classifier system is based exclusively on the morphological variants of a curve that represents the sagittal profile of the calvarium, modeled via artificial neural networks, and yields an accuracy higher than 80 %. The application of this system to other bone profiles is expected to further improve the sensibility of the methodology.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Forensic anthropology; Neural network; Sex determination.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Neural Networks, Computer*
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated*
  • Sex Determination by Skeleton / methods*
  • Skull / anatomy & histology
  • Skull / diagnostic imaging*