In vivo studies of brain development by magnetic resonance techniques

Understanding of the morphological development of the human brain has large ly come from neuropathological studies obtained postmortem. Magnetic resona nce (MR) techniques have recently allowed the provision of detailed structu ral, metabolic, and functional information in vivo on the human brain. Thes e techniques have been utilized in studies from premature infants to adults and have provided invaluable data on the sequence of normal human brain de velopment. This article will focus on MR techniques including conventional structural MR imaging techniques, quantitative morphometric MR techniques, diffusion weighted MR techniques, and MR spectroscopy. In order to understa nd the potential applications and limitations of MR techniques, relevant ph ysical and biological principles for each of the MR techniques are first re viewed. This is followed by a review of the understanding of the sequence o f normal brain development utilizing these techniques. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.