Brain meeting: Nadège Corbin

Brain meeting 

Key neuroscientific goals are to characterise the micro-structure of the human brain and map the functional landscape of cortical areas. MRI is an ideal tool for achieving both aims: the microstructural organisation of the brain can be investigated using quantitative MRI (qMRI), while areas associated with particular human behaviours can be delineated with functional MRI (fMRI). However, investigating the fine details of the brain’s architecture requires high spatial resolution, which, in MRI, is synonymous with long acquisition times. This is problematic since qMRI requires short acquisition times to minimise sensitivity to motion and maintain reasonable overall scan times given that multiple acquisitions are required for modelling. Similarly, fMRI requires high temporal resolution to adequately sample the haemodynamic response and maximise statistical power. Therefore, achieving the competing requirements of high spatial and temporal resolution necessitates the development of accelerated imaging techniques. In this talk I will explain the importance of spoiling when using short repetition times (TR) in qMRI protocols, such as Multi-Parameter Mapping (MPM); the optimization of a B1+ mapping technique that could reduce the total acquisition time of qMRI protocols; and show the impact of rapid imaging sequences, such as 3D EPI and 2D Multiband EPI, on functional sensitivity in terms of spatial and temporal correlations

There will be coffee, tea and cake in the conservatory directly after the talk.