Magnetic Resonance and Brain Function: Approaches from Physics

Book excerpt: In the last decade, NMR has set the basis for the understanding of the function and disfunction of the human brain. Particularly, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has a leading position among the methodologies used for investigation and diagnostic of the Central Nervous System. In the 1990's the objective of finding new investigating means drove scientists towards different approaches, including: 1) Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) MRI; 2) Double Magnetic Resonance (DMR); 3) Hyperpolarized Gases. These 3 methods are aimed at detecting brain metabolites with increasing sensitivity and resolution. This Enrico Fermi Course is of interest to researchers who work at the development of these interdisciplinary areas, i.e. physicists, chemists, engineers, but also the biomedical aspects of brain function in connection to the NMR potentialities.