Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging:
From Neurophysiology to Cognitive Neuroscience

December 10–12, 2010

Updated information on the course venue (November 23, 2010)

Friday:
Student Services Centre
Karl Dittrich hall
Bonnefantenstraat 2
6211 Maastricht, NL

Saturday and Sunday:
Main Aula
Minderbroedersberg 4-6
6211 Maastricht, NL

In order to register, please click here:

Course Organiser:
Kâmil Uludağ
Maastricht University
Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience and Maastricht
Brain Imaging Centre, NL

Local Organiser:
Alard Roebroeck
Maastricht University
Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience and Maastricht
Brain Imaging Centre, NL

Preliminary Faculty:
Andreas Bartels, Elia Formisano, Rainer Goebel,
David Norris, Alard Roebroeck, Klaus Scheffler, Jon Shah,
Kâmil Uludağ

Programme - updated on October 11, 2010:
Please click here to download the programme as PDF.

Course Description
Recent functional imaging techniques provide a non-invasive
window to probe the human brain function while it is
performing a task or experiencing a sensory stimulation. To
understand the capabilities and limitations of each of the
techniques, it is important to review the chain of physiological
and physical events leading to the imaging signals. The
purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the
complexities of fMRI physics, physiology and data analysis.
Each of the topics will be presented by world-class experts
of the respective topics.
First, electrophysiological signals related to fMRI and neurovascular
coupling leading to functional changes in cerebral
blood flow will be discussed. Second, vascular structure and
physiology leading to changes in blood oxygenation and
creating susceptibility effects around the blood vessels will
be presented. The course includes two sessions on MRI sequences
for image acquisition and recent developments in
MRI hardware and software. Emphasis will be laid on how
spatially and temporally specific vascular fMRI signals are.
Most of the fMRI studies are based on blood oxygenation
changes. However, also other alternative fMRI methods
have been proposed based either on blood flow, blood volume,
oxygen metabolism, cell swelling or neuronal currents
which will be explained in the following sessions. Furthermore,
an introduction on standard and advanced fMRI data
analysis will be given. Finally, fMRI applications on visual
cortex and in cognitive neuroscience will be introduced.
As an integral part, the course will also include hands-on
practical work at MRI scanners in small groups. The course
is designed to introduce into physiological and physical
mechanisms underlying fMRI and into neuroscientific fMRI
applications. As a goal, the participants should be able to
discuss potentials and limitations of fMRI and to follow recent
developments in hardware, sequences and software
related to fMRI.

Learning Objectives
Physiological basis of fMRI
• Underlying electrophysiological signals: Local field potential vs. spiking activity
• Mechanisms of neuro-vascular coupling: Neuronal vs. Glial
• Vascular structure: Arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins
• fMRI time course features
• Modelling vascular dynamics: Balloon model
Physical basis of fMRI
• Susceptibility effects of deoxygenated hemoglobin
• Intra- and extra-vascular signal contributions
• Image acquisition schemes: GRE vs. SE vs. SSFP
• Spatial specificity of the BOLD effect: Brain vs. drain
• Magnetic field strength dependence of the BOLD effect
• Parallel imaging and novel image reconstruction schemes
Alternative fMRI methods
• fMRI using contrast agents
• Arterial spin labelling
• VASO
• Diffusion fMRI
• Neuronal currents
FMRI data analysis
• Movement and other corrections
• Image registration
• General linear model
• Independent component analysis
Advanced fMRI and applications
• Multi-modal imaging: fMRI + EEG, MEG, PET, or NIRS
• fMRI of the visual cortex
• Cognitive neuroscience on healthy subjects andpatients