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(功能磁共振成像)数据。该系统将能够在一段持续的时间内以20厘米的视场、64x64的矩阵回波平面成像，以每秒18个图像切片的速度采集图像。功能磁共振成像测量血流动力学响应，作为面对人类行为认知挑战时神经活动变化的函数，因此具有阐明认知过程的大脑基础的能力。该扫描仪将形成一个功能磁共振成像实验室的核心，致力于认知过程的基础研究。该仪器由认知科学家约翰·乔尼德斯博士和生物医学工程师道格拉斯·诺尔博士共同指导，将被安置在该大学神经科学实验室大楼新装修的空间中。该实验室将为认知神经科学、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，它将有助于将密歇根州已经在进行的跨学科工作结合在一起。两种类型的研究将在功能磁共振实验室进行。第一个涉及围绕认知过程问题的许多跨学科合作。这项工作主要集中在较高的认知功能，特别是记忆和执行过程。基本目的是了解内存中涉及的存储机制的性质，以及这些存储机制与用于处理内存中信息的进程的关系。为新实验室提议的第二类研究集中于涉及功能磁共振成像的数据获取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。新的非参数数据分析工具的扩展和测试也应大大扩大目前可用于数据处理的资源。该大学已经开发了一些项目，向学生介绍功能磁共振研究，并培训科学家使用这台机器。它将积极努力吸引代表性不足的团体。密歇根大学已经拨出了大量资源，用于帮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.