Multimodal Imaging in Neurology

The field of brain imaging is developing at a rapid pace and has greatly advanced the areas of cognitive and clinical neuroscience. The availability of neuroimaging techniques, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic source imaging (MSI) has brought about breakthroughs in neuroscience. To obtain comprehensive information about the activity of the human brain, different analytical approaches should be complemented. Thus, in "intermodal multimodality" imaging, great efforts have been made to combine the highest spatial resolution (MRI, fMRI) with the best temporal resolution (MEG or EEG). "Intramodal multimodality" imaging combines various functional MRI techniques (e.g., fMRI, DTI, and/or morphometric/volumetric analysis). The multimodal approach is conceptually based on the combination of different noninvasive functional neuroimaging tools, their registration and cointegration. In particular, the combination of imaging applications that map different functional systems is useful, such as fMRI as a technique for the localization of cortical function and DTI as a technique for mapping of white matter fiber bundles or tracts. This booklet gives an insight into the wide field of multimodal imaging with respect to concepts, data acquisition, and postprocessing. Examples for intermodal and intramodal multimodality imaging are also demonstrated. Table of Contents: Introduction / Neurological Measurement Techniques and First Steps of Postprocessing / Coordinate Transformation / Examples for Multimodal Imaging / Clinical Aspects of Multimodal Imaging / References / Biography

Autorentext

Dr. rer. nat. Hans-Peter Müller is currently working as researcher at the Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Germany. He formerly worked at Central Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Ulm, Germany and at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Berlin, Germany. He finished his Ph.D. in 1996 in magnetic resonance microscopy. Main areas of interest include software development for magnetic resonance imaging (diffusion tensor imaging as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging) and magnetoencephalography. Prof. Dr. med. Jan Kassubek is currently working as senior clinician and researcher at the Depart[1]ment of Neurology, University of Ulm, Germany and has the position as the Vice Chairman. He finished his M.D. in 1997. He formerly worked as Medical Doctor/Researcher at the Division of Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Germany, then at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Min[1]neapolis, MN, USA, and at the Department of Neurology, University of Freiburg, Germany. Main areas of interest are clinical research on neuroimaging, in particular magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography, with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Neurological Measurement Techniques and First Steps of Postprocessing.- Coordinate Transformation.- Examples for Multimodal Imaging.- Clinical Aspects of Multimodal Imaging.- References.- Biography.