Collaborative Research: Unraveling the structure of cerebral cortex gray matter with diffusion MRI

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。在这个项目中，PIS建议使用非侵入性扩散敏感磁共振成像(MRI)来研究大脑皮层的结构。在宏观尺度上，人类大脑皮层由大约50个离散的区域组成，这些区域的结构截然不同，只能在微观层面上识别，但由于每个区域对应着特定的功能，因此具有极其重要的意义。然而，这些根本的分歧是不可能用当代核磁共振分辨出来的。最近，其中一种PI在利用扩散谱MRI或DSI来获得人脑或连接体的大规模纤维连接的大脑白质纤维通路的MRI方面取得了巨大的进展。这个合作项目的目的是通过开发和验证扩散磁共振成像方法来成像离散皮质灰质区的内在结构和连通性，从而将DSI从白质扩展到灰质。本科生、博士后和博士后将在与其他两个合作实验室的互动中接受跨学科培训。通过这种方式，学生将接受本项目跨学科方法的培训，熟悉现代神经科学、神经成像和凝聚态物理概念的思想和方法。此外，这些研究将引起科学媒体和公众的兴趣。这些研究提供了一个机会，向国内和国际上的广大受众介绍神经科学及其目标、方法和用途。目前的建议融合了不同的学科，因此为学生教育提供了一个肥沃的机会。在NSF杰出教师学者(DTS)奖的赞助下，皮斯坦利的联合研究小组将继续与高中生和大学非理科专业的学生密切合作，通过设计实践活动，鼓励学生提出问题并更好地了解实践科学家的活动。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). In this project the PIs proposes to investigate the structure of the cerebral cortex with noninvasive diffusion-sensitive Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI). At macroscopic scale, the human cerebral cortex consists of an estimated 50 or so discrete areas of distinct structure identifiable only at the microscopic level but of immense importance as each corresponds to a specialized function. These fundamental divisions, however, are impossible to discern with contemporary MRI. Recently, one of the PIs made a dramatic progress in MRI of the fiber pathways of cerebral white matter using diffusion spectrum MRI or DSI to obtain a large-scale fiber connectivity of the human brain, or the connectome. The aim of this collaborative project is to extend DSI from white matter into the gray matter by developing and validating a diffusion MRI methodology to image the intrinsic structure and connectivity of discrete cortical gray matter areas. Undergraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral level students will receive interdisciplinary training in their interactions with the other two collaborative labs. In this way students will be trained in the cross-disciplinary methods of this project, obtaining hands on familiarity with the ideas and methods of modern neuroscience, neuroimaging, and concepts of condensed matter physics. Additionally, these studies will be of interest to the scientific media and public. These studies offer an opportunity to present neuroscience, its goals, methods, and uses, to a broad general audience, both nationally and internationally. The present proposal mixes diverse disciplines and so offers a fertile opportunity for student education. Under the auspices of the NSF Distinguished Teacher Scholar (DTS) Award, co-PI Stanley's research group will continue to work intensely with high school students and with college non-science majors through designing hands-on activities that encourage the student to ask questions and better understand the activities of a practicing scientist.