Surface-based characteristics of the cerebellar cortex visualized with ultra-high field MRI

Although having a relatively homogeneous cytoarchitectonic organization, the cerebellar cortex is a heterogeneous region characterized by different amounts of myelin, iron and protein expression profiles. In this study, we used quantitative T-1 and T-2* mapping at ultra-high field (7T) MRI to investigate the tissue characteristics of the cerebellar gray matter surface and its layers. Detailed subject-specific surfaces were generated at three different cortical depths and averaged across subjects to create averaged T-1- and T-2*-maps on the cerebellar surface. T-1 surfaces showed an alternation of lower and higher T-1 values when going from the median to the lateral part of the cerebellar hemispheres. In addition, longer T-1 values were observed in the more superficial gray matter layers. T-2*-maps showed a similar longitudinal pattern, but no change related to the cortical depths. These patterns are possibly due to variations in the level of myelination, iron and zebrin protein expression.