MR-morphometry demonstrates gravity-induced structural brain alterations as a result of position change

Abstract

Introduction: Apart from the investigation of functional reorganisation, modern MR-imaging techniques can also demonstrate structural and lesion-induced plasticity, challenging the view that brain structure is as rigid as formerly believed. These recent insights have been made possible with the use of high resolution 3D MR-based morphometry. Similar 3D MR-datasets are used for planning neuronavigational and neurosurgical procedures with high accuracy. Since volumetric MR-studies may be prone to confounding physiological effects interfering with brain volume, it was aimed at further elucidating the latter in the present study.