NeuRA have made a 3T MRI scanner available for research since 2003. The current scanner is a Philips 3T TX MRI (upgraded May 2010).
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| August 31, 2011 fMRI programming request In addition to the MRI Scanner, NeuRA Imaging now offers a programming service for researchers who have SMP approval. For a fee, fMRI projects needing stimulation Presentation programs can be structured and programmed subject to availability of the programmer. See Request for MRI programming form, under 'How Do I Get Access' for more information. August 16, 2011 July 19, 2011 New 8-channel head coil Philips have recently replaced our 8-channel head coil. The previous head coil was functioning within specifications but it was found that the diode switching times were slowed. The new coil has been in use since Monday. June 1, 2011 In addition, a switch has been added (and sits on the desk) which enables the use of an external laptop. With this now in place, all new connections can be done on the desk without plugging (and unplugging) from the back of the Psycho. This will prevent cables from being mis-used and ensure the longevity of the machine. Over the coming weeks the machine will be encased in a box to raise it off the floor, and additional cables will make it easier to connect the TTL pulse and the button boxes to an external laptop. Research MRI Naming Structure
Failure to comply with this nomenclature will mean that your files will not be stored on Samurai. April 19, 2011 March 16, 2011 MRI users group meeting We would like to instigate regular MRI users group meetings for users of the NeuRA Imaging Facility to enable a conduit for user feedback and for users to find out about operations, forward plans, as well as information about the research system. The meeting has been scheduled for 11am Tuesday April 5, 2010 and will take place in the NeuRA Seminar Room. A nominated person from each research group should attend the meeting who will be responsible for letting us know issues that the group might have, as well as being the first point of contact for the group when they have questions about operations. Publications A reminder to let the facility know (Michael Green) when any new publications using the NeuRA Imaging Facility are published.
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Activity in the brain reward centre provides clues for schizophreniaDr Richard Morris and colleagues have found neural activity deep in the brain of people with schizophrenia might help explain one of the most stubborn symptoms of the disease. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging at NeuRA Imaging, the researchers measured fMRI-related BOLD signals to expected and surprising rewards in healthy adults and people with schizophrenia. The ventral striatum is a reward-related region deep inside the brain, and in the healthy brain this region lit up with surprise when an unexpected reward occurred. However in schizophrenia the amount of abnormal activity in the ventral striatum was related to the so-called negative symptoms of schizophrenia. This is evidence of where symptoms like apathy and poor motivation are coming from, according to Dr Morris. Once we know what part of the brain is causing these stubborn and difficult to treat symptoms, we can start to think about ways to address it. Molecular Psychiatry (2011)
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