NMR Imaging and Localized Spectroscopy

NMR Imaging and Localized Spectroscopy

Research Emphasis

The focus of this resource is on developing magnetic resonance (MR) methods that utilize potential advantages of ultrahigh magnetic fields for investigating human brain function, anatomy, neurochemistry, cancer detection, and cardiac physiology and biochemistry.

Current Research

Functional imaging in the human brain; mechanisms of functional contrast and specificity; applications of functional imaging in the human brain to the motor cortex, the visual system, and cognitive tasks; mapping connectivity between functional areas in the human brain using MR methods; development of B1-insensitive imaging approaches; development of new and novel B1-insensitive adiabatic pulses for spectroscopic and imaging applications using coils that are intrinsically inhomogeneous in their radiofrequency (rf) field profiles, such as surface coils; high-frequency rf interactions with human brain and body; high-field rf coil design; spectroscopic localization techniques; spectroscopic editing techniques combined with spectroscopic localization, multiple quantum techniques; improved methods for chemical shift imaging; carbon-13 and proton MR spectroscopy studies of neurochemistry in health and disease in humans and animal models; ¹⁷O imaging using high fields and applications to study cerebral energetics.

BIRN

The center also is a partner in the Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN) effort of NCRR.

Resource Capabilities

Instruments

4 Tesla/90-cm bore, 7 Tesla/90-cm bore, and 9.4 Tesla/31-cm bore MR imaging and spectroscopy instruments; extensive computational capabilities for image analysis; rf modeling, analysis, and test equipment; rf probes designed for human applications at high frequencies; ultraquiet preamplifiers for high frequencies to be coupled with rf coils.

Special Features

High magnetic field imaging instrumentation and methodology for human studies.

Training Opportunities and Workshops

"Minnesota Workshops and Training Course" held every other year in October. See the CMRR Workshops Web page.

Publications

1. Zhu, X. H., Zhang, N., et al., In vivo ¹⁷O NMR approaches for brain study at high field. NMR in Biomedicine 18:83–103, 2005.

2. Jack, C. R. Jr., Wengenack, T. M., et al., In vivo magnetic resonance microimaging of individual amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's transgenic mice. Journal of Neuroscience 25:10041–10048, 2005.

3. Adriany, G., Van de Moortele, P. F., et al., Transmit and receive transmission line arrays for 7 Tesla parallel imaging. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 53(2):434–445, 2005.

4. Yacoub, E., Van De Moortele, P. F., et al., Signal and noise characteristics of Hahn SE and GE BOLD fMRI at 7 T in humans. Neuroimage 24:738–750, 2005.