MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN-VIVO MONITORING OF T2 RELAXATION-TIME -QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PRIMATE BRAIN MATURATION

This work describes quantitative MRI assessment of primate brain matur ation. Nine young baboons were followed from the age of one to 30 mont hs. Assessment of myelination was based on the gray/white matter contr ast on MR images and the evolution of T2 relaxation time respectively. The brain maturation began in the posterior fossa and progressed to t he olfactory bulbs corresponding to decreasing white matter T2 values. Relaxation parameters provide new opportunities to trace the myelinat ion process in vivo.