Paediatric MRI: High-Resolution in vivo 3T Methods

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for investigating the brain in vivo but is limited by image resolution and scan artefact. In paediatric research, these limitations are compounded by reduced participant compliance, which in turn necessitates shorter scan times to minimise motion artefacts, resulting in less than satisfactory image resolution. We report here methods for MRI acquisition which afford high-resolution, low-noise, paediatric brain data in under nine-minute scans, and novel post-processing with our code freely available at https://osf.io/ckh5t/. Whole-brain in vivo single-participant images were generated at 0.5mm isotropic resolution. This resolution permitted accurate delineation of fine structures, including the hippocampal subfields. The ability to resolve intricate structures in paediatric data provides a tool for studying brain development and its disruption in neurologic and psychiatric disorders.