Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy at 4 Tesla

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The BOLD contrast and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are both field-dependent and are greater at 4T than at 1.5T. For the study of higher cognitive function using fMRI, where the signal-to-noise is always an issue, measurement at high fields has been shown to be advantageous. Since higher cognitive function involves more subtle effects, and a concomitantly smaller BOLD response, a high-field MRI system is essential for such experiments.Much of current fMRI has neglected all other nuclei apart from the hydrogen (1H) nucleus simply because their sensitivity is lower. At high fields, however, the SNR from the biologically-important nuclei 23Na and 17O, which can provide new information over and above that obtainable with BOLD fMRI, is planned.Further, for functional spectroscopy at high field, the improved spectral dispersion, as well as the higher signal-to-noise ratio, are extremely important advantages which may be exploited for the investigation ob brain function.This aplication is focused on the implementation of a number of novel projects which would benefit enormously from execution on the planned 4T machine. Methodological developments will be used to answer questions of neuroscientific and clinical interest.