1st Edition

Essentials of Functional MRI

By Patrick W. Stroman Copyright 2011
    312 Pages 130 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    312 Pages
    by CRC Press

    During the last two decades, new developments in functional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) have made it possible to detect changes in the brain over time, as opposed to the "snapshot" produced by conventional MRI. Essentials of Functional MRI breaks down the technical challenges for physicians, researchers, and technologists who use functional MRI but may not be experts in the necessary math and physics. The author describes the theory and practical details of functional MRI (fMRI) methodology, including how to acquire and analyze images, and a wide range of examples demonstrate how fMRI has been used thus far. The author provides the essential information to study, understand, use, and teach the practical aspects of fMRI for those people who are most likely to extend its use into clinical practice.

    Introduction

    Basic Concepts
    Basic Anatomy of an MRI System
    Representing Images with Numbers and Vice Versa
    Recurring Math Concepts: Representing Data as Sums of Meaningful Components

    Source of the MR Signal and Its Properties
    Origins of the MR Signal.
    The Equilibrium State—Magnetization in Tissues Behavior of the Magnetization When Not at Equilibrium. Pushing the Magnetization Away from Equilibrium—The RF Pulse Detecting the MR Signal. Relaxation Back to Equilibrium Observing the Effects of Relaxation

    The Fundamental Building Blocks of MRI Methods: Spin Echoes and Gradient Echoes
    The Need for Echoes
    Spin Echo
    Gradient Echo.
    Steady-State Methods and Stimulated Echoes.
    Steady-State Methods
    Stimulated Echoes.
    Signal Weighting and Contrast
    Inversion-Recovery Methods
    Magnetization Transfer Contrast
    Summary

    Creating an Image from the Magnetic Resonance Signal
    Spatially Selective Radio-Frequency Pulses
    Encoding Spatial Information into the MR Signal to Create an Image
    Constructing an Image from k-Space
    Signal Strength, Imaging Speed, and Spatial Resolution—You Cannot Have It All Fast Imaging Methods Parallel Imaging Causes of Image Artifacts and Distortion

    Principles and Practice of Functional MRI
    How MRI Becomes Functional MRI
    Contrast Mechanisms: Linking the MR Signal and Neural Function
    General BOLD fMRI Methods
    Special Regions.
    Specific Examples of fMRI Applications—Setting the Acquisition Parameters Alternative Contrast Mechanisms

    Functional MRI Study Design
    Basic Principles of fMRI Study Design
    Choice of Stimulation Method or Task
    Choice of the fMRI Study Design
    Order and Timing of Presentation of Tasks or Stimuli
    Timing of Tasks or Stimuli, Duration, Sampling Rate.
    Summary of Factors Influencing fMRI Study Design

    Functional MRI Data Analysis
    Hypothesis Testing
    fMRI Analysis Software.
    Preprocessing
    Data Analysis Methods
    Statistical Threshold, and Correction for Multiple Comparisons
    Group Analysis
    Interpretation of fMRI Results—What Do They Really Mean?

    Clinical Applications of Functional MRI
    Examples of Current Clinical Applications of fMRI.
    Examples of Forthcoming Clinical Applications

    Biography

    Patrick. W. Stroman, Ph.D ., is now an associate professor Queen's University in Ontario, Canada. He holds a Canada research chair in imaging physics, and leads a research program that focuses on the development of spinal fMRI as a tool for clinical assessments and spinal cord research.

    "A comprehensive book, combining a strong theoretical background with profound practical hints for the use of fMRI in medical research.... represents a major step forward."
    —Massimo Filippi, M.D., Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute HSR, Italy

    "I find the book packed with information. It will be useful for both a clinical audience and MR technologists."
    —W. Einar Mencl, Ph.D., Director of Neuroimaging Research, Haskins Laboratories and Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut