Bif_torque_local

This function returns the angle between the plane of previous bifurcation and the current bifurcation. Bifurcation plane is identified by the two daughter compartments leaving the bifurcation.

A torque is the inner angle measured between two planes (current & parent) of bifurcations. Plane DCE has current bifurcation and plane CAB has parent bifurcation. Although LM returns the absolute angle between CAB and DCE as the result, it must be noted that intuitively what we are measuring is relative change in the angle of second plane (DCE) with respect to the first plane (CAB). Therefore, angles > 90 degrees should be considered as pi - angle.
i.e. in Example1 tilt = 30deg. and in Example2 tilt = 180-110 = 70deg.

Function Output Type : Real

Calculated : At each bifurcation point

Returns a value : For each bifurcation

Output:

Metric	Total_Sum	#Compartments (considered)	#Compartments (discarded)	Minimum	Average	Maximum	S.D.
Bif_torque_local	5828.51	91	(1011)	6.45116	64.0496	119.381	28.9922

*All units are degree.

Values to consider : Total # N_bif - # of first bifurcations coming out of the root node

All *but* the first bifurcations coming out of the root node, because local torque is not well-defined for the first bifurcating nodes. This measure is not truly compartment level, in fact, it is a hybrid between the compartment and branch level, because the node A (as shown in the fig.) is a bifurcating point.

Output Interpretation :

The the Total_Sum of the Bif_torque_local doesn't make sense.

Total_Sum = 5828.51 gives Total_Sum, Minimum = 6.45116 gives minimum, Maximum = 119.381 gives maximum for given input neuron.

References :

Minimum, average and maximum values are meaningful for Bif_torque_local.
Angles at the first bifurcation point are not well defined, hence should be discarded from the analysis.