Synthetic data enables human-grade microtubule analysis with foundation models for segmentation
Fig 5
Domain experts confirm perceptual quality of SynthMT images.
Violin plots show z-normalized ratings of n = 6 domain experts across five quality dimensions for real IRM images and synthetic images from SynthMT and DRIFT [7] (10 images each, 30 in total). Each violin displays the full distribution, median (white line) and interquartile range (thick bar). Ratings were collected on a 7-point Likert scale. DRIFT permits evaluation only of structural fidelity due to its black-and-white outputs (see exemplary images in Fig B in S1 Appendix). SynthMT images score higher than DRIFT on this dimension, indicating that parameter-optimized synthesis yields structures that more closely resemble real microscopy data. A measurable gap to real images persists across all dimensions. Nevertheless, experts rate the backgrounds, lighting, and noise patterns of SynthMT as internally coherent and plausibly aligned with real IRM, in contrast to DRIFT’s limited realism.