Course Description: Neuroscience 803 - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Registration requires permission from the course
instructor.
Course
text (available in the Queen’s Campus Bookstore): Essentials
of Functional MRI,
CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
Outline:
This course is designed for graduate students who want to learn the theory and practice of magnetic resonance imaging for anatomical imaging, imaging of dynamic physiological processes, and MRI to detect neuronal function (functional MRI, fMRI). The focus will be on teaching the principle ideas needed to fully understand the application of MRI, and its strengths and weaknesses, so that it can be used effectively as a research tool.
Prerequisites
This course will require some understanding of basic chemistry, physics, and math. For example, some understanding of the basic structure of matter (molecules, chemical bonds, atoms, nuclei, electrons, protons, neutrons). Some understanding of the concepts of speed, velocity, force, momentum, and electric charge is needed, as well as familiarity with the idea of magnetic fields, and current and voltage. Basic math is essential, understanding of vectors is needed, as well as some familiarity is needed with calculus such as the basic concepts of integrals and derivatives.
Outline
Review of Basic Physics and Math Concepts
The Fourier Transform
Electricity and Magnetism
Magnetic Properties of Atomic Nuclei – “Magnetic Moments”
Interaction Between Magnetic Moments and Static Magnetic Fields
The
Precession in a Magnetic Field
Magnetic Field Gradients
The Radio-Frequency Pulse
Frequency-Selective RF Pulses
Spatially-Selective RF Pulses
Detection of the MR Signal
Relaxation Theory
Spatial Encoding – “k-space”
Gradient-Echoes
Spin-Echoes
Imaging Basics
Fast Imaging
Dynamic Imaging
Functional MRI
Basic Neuroanatomy
BOLD Theory
SEEP Theory
fMRI Study Design
Data Analysis
Example Applications