Recent development of MR imaging technique for the investigation of brain function

Recently, a variety of MR techniques have been developed to investigate brain functions, such as high resolution brain images and various functional brain images. The BOLD fMRI technique opened the new field of non-invasively investigating local brain activities. As analyses are becoming more and more detailed, we frequently meet the problem of limitations with regard to S/N and the physiologic motions of the subjects to be measured. One solution for higher S/N is the introduction of high field MR systems. Improvement can also be achieved via the instrumental side. The Magnetom MR systems from Siemens introduced a high performance gradient system and flexible pulse sequence structure. Also great advances were made in fMRI measurements with real-time motion correction by introduction of PACE (prospective acquisition correction) technique. To apply such sophisticated technique in the clinical setting, the concept of in-line evaluation technique is employed, which means real-time data processing. As soon as scanning is terminated, the processed images can be obtained to be used immediately for diagnoses.