Learning objectives

Understand the operating principles of magnetic resonance imaging. Understanding of some advanced imaging methods with related applications.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Basic knowledge of physics and mathematics. Basic principles of the digital image concept.

Program

In the last decades, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques have been continuously refined and widely adopted for the characterization of the central and peripheral nervous system. Several acquisitions and analysis methods have been developed, in particular, diffusion MRI (dMRI), resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI), and myelin water imaging (MWI), have been widely investigated to assess the nervous tissue at a structural and functional level both in healthy condition and in the diseased state. In this lecture series, after a brief introduction of the MRI principles and imaging methods, some applications of the above-mentioned techniques will be presented both in human and animal studies. The last 4 hours of this seminar will consist in a hands-on session on the 7T MRI instrument available at the Centro Piattaforme Tecnologiche (CPT) facility.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

6 hours of classroom lessons and 4 hours of practical session at the CPT MRI instrument.

Learning assessment procedures

N.A.

Assessment

N.A.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

N.A.