This course has the aim of providing a comprehensive understanding of the basis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods used in the neuroscience field. The course will start from the main concepts of MRI Physics and develop our understanding of the power of MRI to quantify brain structure and function properties in a non-invasive way.
Indeed, MRI can be used to quantify microstructure characteristics such as neurite density or myelin content, as well as to capture the organisation of white matter fibre bundles (through what we know as tractography). We can also measure the response of the brain to a stimulus and how the brain works across regions through the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast.
Through the weeks students will learn about metabolic imaging and spectroscopy as well as the possibility to measure sodium ions concentration.
Students will also be exposed to the use of such advanced MRI methods in diseases, especially through research projects and articles published in peer reviewed journals.
At the end of the course, the power of MRI should be clear to all together with the need for bright minds to work in this sector to extract its full potentials.
- Docente: CLAUDIA GANDINI