Brain-Imaging Studies: Challenges

• MR vs Histopathology:

  • in vivo vs post-mortem: allows longitudinal designs;
  • poor anatomical resolution, but better temporal resolution;
  • 3-D perspective possible;
  • neonatal MR difficult to process automatically due to rapid development (changes in tissue water content);

• For most segmentation tools, the distinction between white & gray matter will be nearly impossible in the first 3-6 mo., begins to function more accurately by 18 mo., when the white/gray distinction approaches adult brains.