BCS 209: Introduction to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Fall 2006
This course introduces students through lecture and laboratory components to the basic principles of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and its use in measuring relationships between brain activity and behavior. Topics include MRI physics, brain anatomy, experimental design and data analysis as well as applications in cognitive neuroscience and biomedical research. In the laboratory component, students will review neuroanatomy and will learn how to use various software packages to analyze structural and functional MRI data. The course will provide a good foundation for understanding the results of fMRI studies as well as designing and analyzing fMRI experiments. Parts of the course will be taught via teleconference from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Prerequisites
BCS 110, BCS 200 (or concurrent enrollment) and permission of instructor. Enrollment is limited to eight students.
Instructors
Joan C. Ballard
Department of Psychology
State University of New York at Geneseo
Keith Schneider
Rochester Center for Brain Imaging
University of Rochester
Textbook
Huettel, S.A., Song, A. W., & McCarthy, G. (2004). Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, MA. ISBN 0-87893-288-7.
Objectives:
Students will
- Demonstrate understanding of the use of MRI and fMRI in neurophsychology, cognitive neuroscience and biomedical research.
- Identify research design issues, both generally and as they apply to fMRI research.
- Develop critical thinking skills in analyzing and planning empirical research.
- Develop laboratory skills in the analysis of fMRI data.
- Understand the ethical considerations in performing human subject research in general and MRI research in particular.
- Participate in fMRI data collection.
- Interpret, evaluate and integrate results of empirical research in a written review and oral presentation.
Assignments
- Term paper: A review paper that synthesizes findings of fMRI research with those of other research techniques to explain a specific cognitive function or clinical disorder.
- Lab assignments: Based on collaborative lab activities, these will focus on identifying neuroanatomical and neural structures, using software packages to analyze data, reporting on experimental findings and designing research projects.
- Weekly quizzes: Brief checkes of comprehension of reading assignments.
- Oral presentation: These will focus on presenting results from review papers or from lab activities.
Course Outline
- Introduction to fMRI
- MRI scanners and safety and ethical considerations
- Basic principles of MR signal, image formation and contrast mechanisms
- Neuronal and hemodynamic activity
- Neuroanatomy and functional systems
- Blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) fMRI
- Spatial and temporal properties of fMRI
- Experimental design
- Preprocessing of fMRI data
- Statistical analysis
- Applications of fMRI
- Converging operations