# Estimating Head Motion from MR-Images

## TL;DR

This paper presents a deep learning approach to estimate subtle head motion from MRI images, improving detection beyond current methods and maintaining known correlations with age.

## Contribution

Introduces a novel deep learning method to predict in-scanner head motion directly from MRI images using motion estimates from an in-scanner camera as ground truth.

## Key findings

- Outperforms state-of-the-art motion estimation methods.
- Can quantify drift and respiration movement independently.
- Preserves correlation between head motion and age on unseen data.

## Abstract

Head motion is an omnipresent confounder of magnetic resonance image (MRI) analyses as it systematically affects morphometric measurements, even when visual quality control is performed. In order to estimate subtle head motion, that remains undetected by experts, we introduce a deep learning method to predict in-scanner head motion directly from T1-weighted (T1w), T2-weighted (T2w) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images using motion estimates from an in-scanner depth camera as ground truth. Since we work with data from compliant healthy participants of the Rhineland Study, head motion and resulting imaging artifacts are less prevalent than in most clinical cohorts and more difficult to detect. Our method demonstrates improved performance compared to state-of-the-art motion estimation methods and can quantify drift and respiration movement independently. Finally, on unseen data, our predictions preserve the known, significant correlation with age.