Virtual: Brain meeting: Prof. Nikolaus Weiskopf

Brain meeting 

Abstract:

Understanding the normal and diseased human brain crucially depends on reliable knowledge of its anatomical microstructure and functional micro-organization. Even small changes in this microstructure can cause debilitating diseases. Until now, the microstructure can only be reliably determined using invasive methods, e.g., ex-vivo histology. This limits neuroscience, clinical research and diagnosis.

I will discuss how an interdisciplinary approach developing novel MRI acquisition methods, image processing methods and integrated biophysical models aims to achieve quantitative histological measures of brain tissue, leading to the emerging field of in vivo histology using MRI. In particular, I will present recent methodological advances in quantitative MRI, ultra-high resolution functional MRI and related biophysical modelling. Characterization of cortical myelination, mapping of superficial white matter / U-fibers and their relation to brain function will be covered as examples. I will also address some of the major challenges of this ambitious goal, such as the limited specificity of conventional MRI measurements and validation of the in-vivo histology approaches.