Studying neuroanatomy using MRI

Lerch, Jason P.; van der Kouwe, Andr� J.W.; Raznahan, Armin; Paus, Tomas; Johansen-Berg, Heidi; Miller, Karla L.; Smith, Stephen M.; Fischl, Bruce; Sotiropoulos, Stamatios N.

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 modelling 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 inferring microstructural properties; we also describe key artefacts and confounds that can lead to incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, we believe that, though methods need to improve and caution is required in its interpretation, structural MRI continues to have great promise in furthering our understanding of how the brain works.

Citation

Lerch, J. P., van der Kouwe, A. J., Raznahan, A., Paus, T., Johansen-Berg, H., Miller, K. L., Smith, S. M., Fischl, B., & Sotiropoulos, S. N. (in press). Studying neuroanatomy using MRI. Nature Neuroscience, 20(3), https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4501

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 13, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Feb 23, 2017
• Deposit Date: Feb 27, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 27, 2017
• Journal: Nature Neuroscience
• Print ISSN: 1097-6256
• Electronic ISSN: 1546-1726
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4501
• Keywords: brain, magnetic resonance imaging, software
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/844622
• Publisher URL: http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v20/n3/full/nn.4501.html
• Contract Date: Feb 27, 2017