In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a method for detecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow of a subject in which magnetic resonance imaging signals of a selected region of interest of the subject's anatomy are acquired. Preferably, the selected region of interest comprises the cerebro-spinal anatomy. A central location of the selected region of interest of the subject's anatomy is determined and used to determine a mean intensity value associated with image pixels of the central location. The mean intensity value is then used to establish interior and exterior outlines of the the selected region of interest of the subject's anatomy so that the CSF flow within the interior and exterior anatomical outlines may be measured or detected.
