"Novel Acquisition Techniques, Contrast Mechanisms & Data Analysis Algorithms for Studying Regional Differences in fMRI Sensitivity"

2011年是人类功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）首次发表研究二十周年。 自那时以来，已经发表了数千篇描述和使用功能磁共振成像的文章，然而，仍然存在重大挑战。 该研究计划旨在通过开发和优化新的功能性神经成像技术来解决其中的一些挑战，这些技术将提供先进的功能，并提高对生成图像对比度的生物物理机制的理解。这项工作的驱动假设是，高场成像的进步存在于物理学和神经科学之间的界面。 特别是，该计划将探索与传统上用fMRI研究的区域（例如白色物质，病变附近的皮质结构等）不同的神经血管/血液动力学特性的脑区域的功能映射技术。 将使用一系列连续的研究项目;首先是先进的MRI采集技术，其次是开发和基准数据分析方法，然后利用这些进展来提高我们对由于不同生物物理特性而导致的功能性MRI灵敏度/特异性的区域和全球差异的理解。

2011 marks the twentieth anniversary of the first published research in human functional MRI (fMRI). Since that time many thousands of articles have been published describing and using fMRI, however, significant challenges remain. This research program aims to address some of these challenges by developing and optimizing new functional neuroimaging techniques that will provide advanced capabilities, as well as improving understanding of the biophysical mechanisms that generate image contrast. The driving hypothesis to this work is that high field imaging advances exist at the interface between physics and neuroscience. In particular, this program will explore techniques for functional mapping of brain regions with neuro-vascular/hemodynamic properties that differ from areas that are traditionally studied with fMRI (e.g. white matter, cortical structures near lesions etc). A sequential series of research projects will be used; starting with advanced MRI acquisition techniques, followed by developing and benchmarking data analysis methods, and then utilizing both these advances to improve our understanding of regional and global differences in fMRI sensitivity/specificity due to differing biophysical properties.