Core C. Neuro-lmaging CoreThe Neuro-lmaging Core (Core C) will obtain structural and diffusion tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) scans of the subjects in this program project, and provide quantitative measures of specificanatomical structures for testing the hypotheses delineated in the scientific projects. Typically Developingchildren as well as in the clinical populations under study in this proposal (Specific Language Impairment,Focal Brain Lesions, High Functioning Autism, and Williams Syndrome) will be scanned shortly afterenrolment in this study. MRI provides high-resolution images of the human brain with minimal risk, and thusis appropriate for children. From their differential tissue properties and relative anatomical locations, it ispossible to delineate and quantify different subcortical structures and cortical areas. Similarly, white mattertracts can be localized from diffusion tensor MRI. Recently, reliable and validated tools have beendeveloped to automatically and exhaustively label cortical and subcortical structures in adults. Labelling ofwhite matter tracts is less validated but under rapid development. We propose in this Core to modify thesetools so that they operate reliably in the pediatric population, specifically quantify anatomical entitiesrelevant to the hypotheses advanced in the individual projects, and validate their performance in target andcontrol populations. Our overall goal is to provide quantitative measures of human brain anatomy that canbe correlated with the neuropsychological and psychophysiological measures, as well as the clinical status,of the pediatric populations included in this Program Project.
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