Studying Neuroanatomy Using MRI

Overview

Journal Nat Neurosci

Date 2017 Feb 24

PMID 28230838

Citations 129

Authors

Jason P Lerch

Andre J W van der Kouwe

Armin Raznahan

Tomas Paus

Heidi Johansen-Berg

Karla L Miller

Stephen M Smith

Bruce Fischl

Stamatios N Sotiropoulos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The study of neuroanatomy using imaging enables key insights into how our brains function, are shaped by genes and environment, and change with development, aging and disease. Developments in MRI acquisition, image processing and data modeling have been key to these advances. However, MRI provides an indirect measurement of the biological signals we aim to investigate. Thus, artifacts and key questions of correct interpretation can confound the readouts provided by anatomical MRI. In this review we provide an overview of the methods for measuring macro- and mesoscopic structure and for inferring microstructural properties; we also describe key artifacts and confounds that can lead to incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, we believe that, although methods need to improve and caution is required in interpretation, structural MRI continues to have great promise in furthering our understanding of how the brain works.

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