In this project, we study the resolution limits of different high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methods to resolve differences within the cerebral cortex.
Understanding brain development and decline is of utmost importance in an aging society. MRI Biophysics Research Group aims to uncover crucial mechanisms of human brain aging, by identifying the contribution of iron accumulation, a major determinant of brain development and brain decline.
In order to study the Basal Ganglia in relation to cortical areas, the used fMRI protocol has to be carefully adjusted with respect to its region of interest and the necessary signal under-sampling. We performed a study at a field strength of 7 Tesla investigating the dependence of the detected signal on the MR parameters employed.
Columnar structures in the human visual cortex are studied using high-resolution fMRI methods in order to localize the actual source of neural processing more precisely.
Embedded in the clinical trial NISCI (Nogo inhibition in spinal cord injury: www.nisci-2020.eu), we employ whole brain quantitative imaging at 3 Tesla as a new biomarker for de- and regeneration.
We work on improving reliability of quantitative parametric maps by correcting for rigid head motion and B0-fluctuations measured during acquisition at 7T as well as by employing general function approximators to correct for artifacts of unknown origin at 3T.
Using a field strength of 7 Tesla, the "Arterial Blood Contrast" (ABC), which is based on the Magnetization Transfer effect, could be measured with an isotropic spatial resolution of 1.5 mm in combination with a conventional functional MRI contrast.
