MRI: Development of an Integrated Neuroimaging Instrument with Temporal and Spatial Alignments for Brain Research

该项目基于专门的软件和独特的硬件设计，开发了一种新的神经成像和脑映射综合仪器，旨在引起对大脑在正常和病理状态下的功能映射的新理解，重点是关键的神经系统疾病。在完全集成的记录模式下，从结构、功能和大脑连接图的角度来设想大脑，打破了非常具有挑战性的时间和空间对齐的障碍。这也在建筑系统设计和新型软件技术方面架起了科学的桥梁，这些技术在增强诊断和深思熟虑的治疗方案方面改善了患者护理的提供。这项工作的重点是挑战性的神经系统疾病的癫痫，阿尔茨海默氏病和注意力缺陷/多动症（ADD-ADHD）和相关的认知挑战，以提供有效的以对象为中心的护理。该仪器的软件算法和硬件组件的一般结构有助于研究工作和应用，这些研究工作和应用扩展到使用新型硬件接口和相关软件模块和协议解决的其他神经系统疾病（如帕金森病）。该项目利用独特的方法在不同记录模式的完全集成环境中收集数据，以引起对大脑功能映射的新理解，并从这些具有挑战性的神经系统疾病的特定病理状态中描绘正常状态。它在非侵入性导航经颅磁刺激（TMS）的相同设置中进行了开创性的整合工作，用于映射功能皮层，并通过嵌入式对齐和完全配准激发新协议， - 神经导航和术前评估， - 用于MRI/fMRI引导磁刺激的解剖和功能MRI，以及-嵌入MRI并与EEG电极完全集成的微线圈设计，用于精确的TMS-MRI-fMRI和EEG集成，所有这些都将产生一个完全集成的仪器，能够增强标测、分析和诊断的能力，然后针对这些不同的神经系统疾病制定干预和治疗方案。

This project, developing a new integrated instrument for neuroimaging and brain mapping, based on specialized software and unique hardware designs, aims to elicit new understanding of the functional mappings of the brain in its normal and pathology states focusing on key neurological disorders. Envisioning the brain in terms of the structural, functional, and brain connectivity maps under fully integrated recording modalities breaks the barriers of very challenging time and space alignments. This also bridges scientific premises in building system designs and novel software techniques that improve the delivery of patient-care in terms of enhanced diagnosis as well as well-thought-out treatment protocols. The work focuses on challenging neurological disorders of epilepsy, Alzeimer's disease and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD-ADHD) and related cognitive challenges so as to provide effective subject-centric care. The general construct of the software algorithms and the hardware components of this instrument facilitates research endeavors and applications that extend to other neurological disorders (such as Parkinson) to be addressed using novel hardware interfaces and related software modules and protocols. This project utilizes a unique approach at collecting data in a fully integrated setting across different recording modalities to elicit new understanding of the functional mapping of the brain and in delineating normal state from the specific pathology state of these challenging neurological disorders. It performs pioneering work on integration in a same setting of non-invasive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for mapping the eloquent cortex and instigating new protocols with embedded alignments and full registration to - Neuro-navigation and pre-surgical evaluation, - Anatomical and functional MRI for MRI/fMRI-guided magnetic stimulation, and - Microcoil designs embedded into MRI and fully integrated with EEG electrodes for pinpointed TMS-MRI-fMRI and EEG integration, all of which are to yield a fully integrated instrument with the ability to augment capabilities for mapping, analysis, and diagnosis, followed by elaborate intervention and treatment protocols for these different neurological disorders.