It is illustrated that phase-sensitive inversion-recovery MR images are particularly well suited for the monitoring of brain maturation and myelination in the neonate and young infant. Provided appropriate timings are applied with the inversion-recovery MR pulse sequence, the myelinated areas show up as bright spots in the phase-sensitive images. The chronology of the appearance, and the location of these hyperintense zones correlate well with the chronology of brain maturation, as assessed by other means. In particular, the progressive functional capabilities of the infant correlate well with the progress of myelination, as exhibited by the MR images.