7 Tesla multimodal MRI dataset of ex-vivo human brain

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive, high-resolution multimodal ex-vivo MRI database of six Chinese human brains, addressing previous limitations of single-modality datasets and including diverse brain microstructure information.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel multimodal ex-vivo MRI database from Chinese brains, including multiple imaging modalities and population templates, filling a gap in existing datasets.

Findings

Created a multi-parametric MRI database of six Chinese brains

Developed population-averaged brain templates and segmentation labels

Enhanced understanding of Asian brain microstructure and connectivity

Abstract

Ex-vivo MRI offers invaluable insights into the complexity of the human brain, enabling high-resolution anatomical delineation and integration with histopathology, and thus, contributes to both basic and clinical studies on normal and pathological brains. However, ex-vivo MRI is challenging in sample preparation, acquisition, and data analysis, and existing ex-vivo MRI datasets are often single image modality and lack of ethnic diversity. In our study, we aimed to address these limitations by constructing a comprehensive multimodal MRI database acquired from six ex-vivo Chinese human brains. This database included structural MRI, high-angular resolution diffusion MRI, quantitative susceptibility mapping, and quantitative T1 and T2 maps, which enabled multifaceted depiction of brain microstructure and connectivity. Furthermore, we generated population-averaged multimodal templates and the segmentation labels to facilitate analysis of ex-vivo brain MRI. This public database offers a collection of high-resolution and multi-parametric ex-vivo human brain MRI and filled the gap of lacking Asian brain samples in existing databases.