The maturation of white matter across childhood and adolescence is predominantly driven by the thickening of myelin and increasing axon density. Previous post-mortem studies have suggested that axon count in the corpus callosum reaches adult levels in the early post-natal period, suggesting that the radial growth of axons may be driving the apparent increases in axon density. In this novel application of paediatric microstructural development, we estimate apparent axon diameter using ultra-strong gradient MRI (300 mT/m) for the first time. Our findings reveal age-related maturation of axon diameter in the genu and body of the corpus callosum.
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