Differences in the spatial and temporal patterns of head motion during MRI of adults and infants

AimHead motion has a profound effect on MRI, and will contaminate comparisons of function or structure between groups that move differently. This work compares adults and infants. Infants might move differently for physical, physiological and cognitive reasons, but so far these differences have not been quantified.\n\nMethodsThe spatial modes and total magnitude of motion in the MRI scanner were measured (N=211). The effects of group (infant vs. adult) and stimulation paradigm (auditory vs. visual) were evaluated.\n\nResultsSpatial modes of motion were found to be distinct between infant and adult groups. Infants had less anterior-posterior translational motion, but greater motion in other dimensions, often with complex multi-axis patterns. In magnitude distribution, sleeping infants often remained more still than adults, but when movement did occur it was more extreme and abrupt. Two groups of adults presented with different stimulation showed similar shapes of motion.\n\nConclusionThe spatial modes and magnitude distribution of motion differed substantially between groups, and must be considered carefully as a confound in comparisons of structure or function. The abruptness and magnitude of movement suggests that for infants relative to adults post-processing strategies such as de-noising are likely to be more effective than prospective motion correction.\n\nKey notesO_LIQuantified the spatial and temporal distribution of motion during MRI in 211 adults and neonates\nC_LIO_LIThe different spatial modes in adults and infants were visualized and statistically contrasted\nC_LIO_LIThe magnitude of motion had \"heavier tails\" in infants, with more still periods, and more large movements, than adults.\nC_LI