Paradoxical Changes in Magnetization Transfer Ratio & Susceptibility Contrast in the Motor Cortex

Olivier E. Mougin¹, Samuel J. Wharton¹, Rosa M. Sanchez Panchuelo¹, Richard W. Bowtell¹, Penny A. Gowland¹

Myelination and iron storage is variable across the brain, creating specific cortical architecture for different functional areas. We used magnetization transfer imaging as well as susceptibility mapping to look at in-vivo variation across the cortex of healthy volunteers. Variation between areas such as the motor cortex, the visual cortex, the occipital cortex and the frontal lobe shows that contrast in the grey matter is determined not only by iron, but also by myelin.