SRNR: Training neural networks for Super-Resolution MRI using Noisy high-resolution Reference data

Neural network (NN) based approaches for super-resolution MRI typically require high-SNR high-resolution reference data acquired in many subjects, which is time consuming and a barrier to feasible and accessible implementation. We propose to train NNs for Super-Resolution using Noisy Reference data (SRNR), leveraging the mechanism of the classic NN-based denoising method Noise2Noise. We systematically demonstrate that results from NNs trained using noisy and high-SNR references are similar for both simulated and empirical data. SRNR suggests a smaller number of repetitions of high-resolution reference data can be used to simplify the training data preparation for super-resolution MRI.

Quantifying the uncertainty of neural networks using Monte Carlo dropout for deep learning based quantitative MRI

Dropout is conventionally used during the training phase as regularization method and for quantifying uncertainty in deep learning. We propose to use dropout during training as well as inference steps, and average multiple predictions to improve the accuracy, while reducing and quantifying the uncertainty. The results are evaluated for fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) maps which are obtained from only 3 direction scans. With our method, accuracy can be improved significantly compared to network outputs without dropout, especially when the training dataset is small. Moreover, confidence maps are generated which may aid in diagnosis of unseen pathology or artifacts.