Natalia Petridou1, 2, Fredy Visser1, 3, Jaco JM Zwanenburg1, Ben M. Harvey4, Serge O. Dumoulin4, Peter Luijten1
1Radiology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 2Rudolf Magnus Institute, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 3Philips Medical Systems, Best, Netherlands; 4Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
Recent work in non-human primates has shown enhanced in vivo visualization of subtle features of myeloarchitecture based on T1 contrast. Here, extending this work to humans, a 3D MPRAGE was optimized to enchance T1 contrast in high myelin content gray matter (GM) while suppressing signals from the remaining GM. We show excellent myelin visualization within GM in primary visual cortex, and spatially detailed T1 contrast variations in extra-striate visual cortex, possibly due to variations in myelin content as suggested by histology. This enhanced myelin sensitivity can bridge between in vivo functional imaging, and histological mapping of cortical micro-architecture in humans.