Magnetic Resonance and Brain Function: Approaches from Physics

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 diagnosis of the central nervous system. In the 1990s the objective of finding new investigating means drove scientists towards different approaches. Among these: Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) MRI; Double Magnetic Resonance (DMR); and Hyperpolarized Gases. These three methods are aimed at detecting brain metabolites with increasing sensitivity and resolution. They are widely proposed by the lectures of this Varenna course, that contain a presentation of this field.