Title
Effects of magnetization transfer on T contrast in human brain white matter.
Abstract
MRI based on T1 relaxation contrast is increasingly being used to study brain morphology and myelination. Although it provides for excellent distinction between the major tissue types of gray matter, white matter, and CSF, reproducible quantification of T1 relaxation rates is difficult due to the complexity of the contrast mechanism and dependence on experimental details. In this work, we perform simulations and inversion-recovery MRI measurements at 3T and 7T to show that substantial measurement variability results from unintended and uncontrolled perturbation of the magnetization of MRI-invisible 1H protons of lipids and macromolecules. This results in bi-exponential relaxation, with a fast component whose relative contribution under practical conditions can reach 20%. This phenomenon can strongly affect apparent relaxation rates, affect contrast between tissue types, and result in contrast variations over the brain. Based on this novel understanding, ways are proposed to minimize this experimental variability and its effect on T1 contrast, quantification accuracy and reproducibility.
Year
DOI
Venue
2016
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.12.032
NeuroImage
Keywords
Field
DocType
Brain tissue,White matter,Myelin,T1 contrast,Magnetization transfer,Macromolecular content
Spin–lattice relaxation,Reproducibility,Neuroscience,White matter,Magnetization,Psychology,Cognitive psychology,Brain morphometry,Human brain,Magnetization transfer,Nuclear magnetic resonance,Brain tissue
Journal
Volume
ISSN
Citations 
128
1053-8119
1
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.36
0
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
van gelderen p110.36
x jiang210.36
Jeff H. Duyn383948.39