Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) methods provide standardizable and objective measures for characterizing brain development and abnormalities in young children. However, motion is a significant problem for applying extended qMRI studies in young children and has limited the ability to perform studies in these populations. This project will further develop, optimize and evaluate technologies for multicomponent relaxometry. The technique will be specifically optimized for pediatric imaging by dramatically reducing the acquisition time and utilizing a novel image reconstruction method that reduces motion artifacts. These optimized imaging technologies will be evaluated in young children. This project will provide a set of protocols, software tools, and strategies for investigating healthy and abnormal brain development in both clinical and research pediatric populations.
This project will develop and optimize novel MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) methods for quantitative neuroimaging studies in awake young children, which will improve the success rates of the imaging methods in younger and more intellectually disabled children without sedation. These techniques are targeted towards reducing imaging times and correcting the effects of head motion. These improvements will enable neuroimaging studies young healthy children as well as pediatric patients with neurological, genetic, and developmental disorders, as well as brain injuries.
