Chapter 1

An Introduction to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain

Author: Paul Matthews (FMRIB Centre, Oxford University)

Section 1.1. Introduction: What is Functional Imaging of the Brain?

1.1.1: The physiology of brain activation
1.1.2: Techniques for functional brain mapping

Section 1.2. Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

1.2.1: Spatial localisation in MRI
1.2.2: Generation of contrast in MRI
1.2.3: Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

Section 1.3. The Physiological Basis for Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) fMRI

1.3.1: Mechanisms of haemodynamic change
1.3.2 Coupling of haemodynamic changes to neuronal activation

Section 1.4. Perfusion fMRI

1.4.1: Use of contrast agents
1.4.2: Arterial spin-tagging methods

Section 1.5. Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) fMRI

1.5.1: How is blood oxygenation level dependent contrast generated?
1.5.2: Temporal resolution of the BOLD response
1.5.3: Spatial resolution of the BOLD response

Section 1.6. Hardware for MR Imaging

1.6.1: What is the best magnetic field strength?
1.6.2: Defining characteristics of the ideal gradient coil
1.6.3: The importance of the radiofrequency coil
1.6.4: Practical constraints in functional imaging

Section 1.7. Experimental Design for fMRI

1.7.1 Design of the fMRI experiment
1.7.2 Behavioural monitoring

Section 1.8. Analysis of fMRI Experiments

1.8.1: Quantitative fMRI
1.8.2: Real-time fMRI

Section 1.9. Neuroanatomical Interpretation of Functional Data

1.9.1 A common brain space
1.9.2 Cortical "flat map" representations

Section 1.10. Applications of fMRI

1.10.1: Cognitive neuroscience
1.10.2: Clinical applications of fMRI

Section 1.11. BOLD fMRI in Perspective

1.11.1: Limitations of the technique
1.11.2: The future of fMRI