What are we measuring in developmental structural MRI?

Poster presented at 2013 Flux Congress

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has given us the unprecedented capability to measure the developing human brain. This technique has paved the way for longitudinal studies exploring brain development across the entire life span. Results from these studies have given us a glimpse of the remarkably extended development of our brain, converging with evidence from anatomical and histological studies. But what are we measuring in developmental structural MRI studies? In this presentation, we attempt to unpack how developmental changes in brain structure during childhood and adolescence relate to co-occurring physical changes, and explore possible explanations for what these measurements represent in terms of cellular processes and organization. We utilize longitudinal structural MRI data to describe the developmental changes in brain structure as they relate to other physical measures such as height, weight, and pubertal stage, and consider the impact of accounting for regional brain volumes or total intracranial volume. In addition, we review and discuss the possible cellular and organizational changes that could be reflected in developmental structural MRI studies.