Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to the Study of Development

Abstract

Recent methodological advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have revolutionized our ability to study the developing human brain. This chapter examines the use and promise of MRI in addressing key developmental questions, including how the healthy normal brain develops and how such development is related to behavior. This methodology can also help us understand the biological substrates of childhood disorders. Examples of studies that examine the biological progression of developmental disorders following treatment and remediation are provided. Used effectively, this methodology could shed light on an array of developmental questions with respect to both healthy and pathological development.