Acquisition of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner for Functional Studies

在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，密歇根大学将购买最先进的3特斯拉核磁共振系统：GE Signa LX Horizon 3t，配备先进的开发工作站，用于实时处理fMRI（功能性磁共振成像）数据。该系统将能够在持续一段时间内获得高达18个图像切片/秒，20厘米视场，64x64矩阵回波平面成像。功能磁共振成像测量血液动力学反应，作为面对认知挑战时神经活动变化的功能，因此有能力阐明认知过程的大脑基础。该扫描仪将成为功能性磁共振成像实验室的核心，该实验室致力于认知过程的基础研究。共同指导的博士。John Jonides和Douglas Noll分别是认知科学家和生物医学工程师，该仪器将被安置在大学神经科学实验室大楼新装修的空间里。该实验室将为来自认知神经科学、神经科学、生物医学工程、物理学、生物统计学、语言学、计算机科学、放射学和精神病学的研究人员提供设施，以探索感知和认知的基本问题。因此，它将有助于整合密歇根大学正在进行的跨学科工作。两种类型的研究将在功能磁共振成像实验室进行。第一个涉及以认知过程问题为中心的众多跨学科合作。这项工作主要集中在高级认知功能，特别是记忆和执行过程。基本的主旨是理解内存中存储机制的本质，以及这些存储机制与在内存中操作信息的过程之间的关系。为新实验室中心提出的第二类研究涉及功能磁共振成像的数据采集和分析的方法学问题。这项工作的一个重点将是继续开发专门用于功能数据收集的新脉冲序列。扩展和测试新的非参数数据分析工具也应大大扩大目前可用于数据处理的资源。该大学已经开发了许多项目，向学生介绍功能磁共振成像研究，并培训科学家使用该机器。它将积极努力吸引代表性不足的群体。密歇根大学已经分配了大量资源来协助购买仪器和翻新实验室以容纳它。

With National Science Foundation support the University of Michigan will purchase a state-of-the-art 3 Tesla MRI system: a GE Signa LX Horizon 3 T with an advanced development workstation for real-time processing of fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) data. The proposed system will be capable of acquiring up to 18 image slices/second with 20 cm field of view, 64x64 matrix echo-planar imaging over a sustained period. FMRI measures hemodynamic response as a function of change in neural activity in the face of cognitive challenge in behaving humans and thus has the ability to illuminate the brain bases of cognitive processes. The scanner will form the core of a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory dedicated to basic research studies of cognitive processes. Co-directed by Drs. John Jonides and Douglas Noll, a cognitive scientist and biomedical engineer respectively, the instrument will be housed in newly renovated space in the University's Neuroscience Laboratory Building. The laboratory will provide facilities for researchers from cognitive neuroscience, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, physics, biostatistics, linguistics, computer science, radiology and psychiatry to explore basic issues in perception and cognition. It will thus serve to coalesce interdisciplinary work already underway at Michigan.Two types of research will be conducted at the fMRI laboratory. The first involves numerous interdisciplinary collaborations centered around issues of cognitive process. This work concentrates largely on higher cognitive functions, especially memory and executive processes. The basic thrust is to understand the nature of storage mechanisms involved in memory and the relation of these storage mechanisms to processes used to manipulate information in memory. The second class of studies proposed for the new Laboratory center on methodological issues of data acquisition and analysis involving fMRI. One focus of this work will be on continued development of new pulse sequences that are specialized for functional data collection. Expansion and testing of new non-parametric data-analysis tools should also substantially expand the resources currently available for data treatment. The University has developed a number of programs to introduce students to fMRI research and to train scientists in use of the machine. It will actively work to attract under represented groups. The University of Michigan has allocated significant resources both the assist in purchase of the instrument and renovate a laboratory to house it.