Characterization of the cortical myeloarchitecture with inhomogeneous magnetization transfer imaging (ihMT)

Myelin specific imaging techniques to characterize white matter in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) have become an area of increasing focus. Gray myelination is important marker cortical microstructure, and its impairment relevant progressive MS. However, assessment challenging due thin layers. While myelin water ultra-short TE not yet been implemented assess myeloarchitecture, magnetization transfer (MT) shows promise. A recent development the MT technique, ihMT, has demonstrated greater sensitivity/specificity. Here we a 3D ihMT acquisition analysis gray myeloarchitecture. 20 young healthy volunteers were imaged with ihMTRAGE sequence quantitative metrics (ihMTsat), dual frequency-offset (dual MTsat) calculated. Cortical surface-based ihMTsat MTsat performed compared. We also compared map T1-weighted images (T1w), defined proxy content. maps qualitative agreement previous work T1w map, showing higher values primary cortices lower insula. IhMTsat significantly correlated but regional differences. The ratio ihMTsat/dual highlighted sulci. ihMTsat, metric can be reliably measured unique contrast between regions.