Talk: Anatomical brain imaging methods: The next generation

Topic: Anatomical brain imaging methods: The next generation

Speaker: Nikolaus Weiskopf (Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK)

Date: 8.2.2012 at 5.30 pm

Venue: Seminarraum, Center for Advanced Neuroimaging statt (Sauerbruchweg 4 auf dem Charité Mitte Campus, Ebene 2

Map: http://www.bccn-berlin.de/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=191&languageId=2&contentId=2273

Abstract:

Anatomical MR imaging has not only become a cornerstone in clinical diagnosis but also in neuroscience research. The great majority of anatomical studies rely on T1-weighted images for morphometry, such as measurements of local gray matter volume using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). However, the neuroanatomical interpretation of this approach is limited, since T1w images mix different contrast mechanisms and their signal amplitude is not quantitative.

I will present a new approach to anatomical imaging based on quantitative multi-parameter mapping that allows for whole brain mapping of T1, T2*, proton density (PD) and magnetization transfer (MT) with at least 1 mm resolution. MT maps show improved contrast in subcortical areas, yielding improved VBM results (Helms et al., 2009). The quantitative imaging approach is complemented by the introduction of voxel-based quantification (VBQ; (Draganski et al., 2011)), which allows for whole brain assessment of the parameter values. VBQ adds to the established VBM analyses through its sensitivity to tissue microstructure indirectly reflected by the different parameter values.

I will discuss the basic background, technical challenges and applications of this novel integrated approach. Applications will include the study of ageing (Draganski et al., 2011) and in-vivo parcellation of the cortex at 800μm resolution – first steps towards MR-based in-vivo histology.