In vivo human fetal brain analysis using MR imaging

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the current research into in utero magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the human fetal brain. It is divided into three parts: structural imaging, diffusion imaging, and functional imaging. In each part, a description of MR sequences is provided, as well as advanced image processing techniques that are used to build 3D images from motion scattered slices. Combination of fast MR techniques and post-processing algorithms leads to key applications in the context of in utero fetal brain studies such as brain folding analysis, connectome analysis, and functional network analysis. The recent advances in in utero fetal brain MR imaging described in this chapter open new perspectives in early brain development understanding.