High quality brain segmentation from multi-parameter mapping at Ultra-High Field MRI

Very few segmentation techniques are optimized for 7T images. Due to the lack of approaches and the high level of inhomogeneity observed with Ultra-High Field images, neuroscientists typically limit the analysis to the upper half of the brain. A novel resolution- and contrast-agnostic technique, called SynthSeg, may remedy this limitation. A multi-parameter mapping protocol and MPRAGE images were acquired to test SynthSeg against FreeSurfer on 7T sub-millimeter brain images. Our results showed that SynthSeg can surpass FreeSurfer, especially for the cerebellum and temporal lobes. Moreover, we showed that quantitative maps can be great surrogates to high-resolution T1w images like MPRAGE.