Early laminar organization of the human cerebrum demonstrated with diffusion tensor imaging in extremely premature infants.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to delineate early laminar organization of the cerebrum in two extremely premature infants imaged postnatally at estimated ages of 25 and 27 menstrual weeks. The diffusivity and anisotropy of the cortical plate, subplate zone, intermediate zone, subventricular and periventricular zones, and germinal matrix are examined. Automated segmentation of diffusion tensor images to reveal the laminar architecture of the developing human cerebrum is also demonstrated.