Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Gradient Echo Contrast T2*

Description

This lecture covers the fundamentals of gradient echo contrast (T2*) in biomedical imaging, explaining the concept of T2* weighting and static dephasing. It also discusses the various contrast mechanisms in MRI, such as proton density, T1, and T2-weighted images, with examples from the Whole Brain Atlas site at Harvard. Additionally, it explores T2*-weighted images for venography and BOLD fMRI, as well as spatial encoding techniques in MRI.

In MOOC

Fundamentals of Biomedical Imaging: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body. MRI does not involve X-rays or the use of ionizing radiation, which distinguishes it from computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Medical imaging

Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging seeks to reveal internal structures hidden by the skin and bones, as well as to diagnose and treat disease. Medical imaging also establishes a database of normal anatomy and physiology to make it possible to identify abnormalities.

Physics of magnetic resonance imaging

The physics of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) concerns fundamental physical considerations of MRI techniques and technological aspects of MRI devices. MRI is a medical imaging technique mostly used in radiology and nuclear medicine in order to investigate the anatomy and physiology of the body, and to detect pathologies including tumors, inflammation, neurological conditions such as stroke, disorders of muscles and joints, and abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels among others.

Spatial memory

In cognitive psychology and neuroscience, spatial memory is a form of memory responsible for the recording and recovery of information needed to plan a course to a location and to recall the location of an object or the occurrence of an event. Spatial memory is necessary for orientation in space. Spatial memory can also be divided into egocentric and allocentric spatial memory. A person's spatial memory is required to navigate around a familiar city. A rat's spatial memory is needed to learn the location of food at the end of a maze.

Spatial cognition

Spatial cognition is the acquisition, organization, utilization, and revision of knowledge about spatial environments. It is most about how animals including humans behave within space and the knowledge they built around it, rather than space itself. These capabilities enable individuals to manage basic and high-level cognitive tasks in everyday life. Numerous disciplines (such as cognitive psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, geographic information science, cartography, etc.

Related lectures (32)

Spin Relaxation in Magnetic Resonance

Introduces the fundamentals of spin relaxation in magnetic resonance, covering spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation, and rotational motion in liquids.

Contrast in MRI

Explores MRI principles, contrast agents, neural activity imaging, and functional MRI techniques.

BOLD Contrast: Biophysical Basis and Brain Function Imaging MOOC: Fundamentals of Biomedical Imaging: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Explores the biophysical basis of BOLD contrast and brain function imaging using fMRI.

Basic MR Contrasts MOOC: Fundamentals of Biomedical Imaging: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Covers the generation of basic MRI contrasts and principles behind T₁-weighted MRI in medical imaging.

NMR Experiments: Basics and Applications