Multi-User MRI Computing Cluster and Visual Projection System

大脑已经被证明包含离散区域和复杂的网络，使我们能够思考，做出决定并处理我们周围世界的感官信息，以便与我们的环境互动。在过去的20年里，人们在理解大脑如何编码关于世界的感官信息方面取得了重大进展。通过大脑成像技术，包括大脑的磁共振成像（MRI），我们对自己的行为和反应的理解有所增加。神经科学家可以描绘大脑的结构，区域如何相互连接，以及它在特定的思想，意图，感知和行动中如何发挥作用。尽管取得了重大进展，但为了充分理解大脑如何指导我们日常行为的复杂性，仍然有更多的发现。这项研究计划将建立在约克大学MRI研究设施现有的MRI基础设施上，为研究人员提供利用尖端神经科学工具更好地检查大脑的机会。提出的技术包括一个视觉投影系统，用于在高场磁环境中提供视觉刺激，使神经科学家和他们的学员进行MRI实验，显着先进的时空控制视觉刺激。计算集群和数据服务器将能够更快地分析所获取的大型数据集。使用约克大学MRI研究设施的神经科学家集中在不同的领域工作，以了解大脑和行为，使约克设施成为新的研究和开发的温床。这一基础设施将为约克大学MRI研究设施的研究人员在国内和国际神经科学领域带来竞争优势。这项研究技术将有助于培训学生从本科到研究生和博士后水平的最新技术在映射大脑及其网络，从而使他们在国内和国际上的研究，工业和临床环境具有高度竞争力。

The brain has been shown to contain discrete regions and complex networks that allow us to think, make decisions and process the sensory information in the world around us in order to interact with our environment. Over the past 20 years significant advances have been made in understanding how the brain codes sensory information about the world. The increase in our understanding of how we behave and respond has occurred through brain imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Neuroscientists can image the brain's structure, how regions connect to one another and how it functions during specific thoughts, intentions, perceptions and actions. Despite significant advances, there is still more to discover in order to fully understand the complexities of how the brain guides our daily behaviour. This research proposal will build upon existing MRI infrastructure at the MRI Research Facility at York University by providing researchers with the opportunity to better examine the brain with cutting edge neuroscience tools. The technology proposed includes a visual projection system for delivery of visual stimuli in the high field magnetic environment to enable neuroscientists and their trainees to perform MRI experiments with significantly advanced spatiotemporal control over visual stimuli. A computing cluster and data server will enable faster analysis of the large datasets that are acquired. The concentration of neuroscientists using the MRI Research Facility at York University are working in diverse areas to understand the brain and behaviour making the York Facility a hotbed for novel research and development. This infrastructure will yield a competitive edge for researchers at the MRI Research Facility at York University nationally and internationally within the field of neuroscience. This research technology will assist in training students from undergraduate to graduate and postdoctoral levels on the latest techniques in mapping the brain and its networks thereby making them highly competitive nationally and internationally in research, industry and clinical settings.