Program Overview

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Introduction to Brain Imaging in Neuroscience: With a Focus on MRI, PET, EEG and MEG Methods

Essential Data

• Course code: 2XX082
• Course name: Introduction to Brain Imaging in Neuroscience: With a Focus on MRI, PET, EEG and MEG Methods
• Credits: 7.5
• Form of Education: Higher education, study regulation of 2007
• Main field of study: Medicine
• Level: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
• Grading scale: Fail (U) or pass (G)
• Department: Department of Clinical Neuroscience
• Decided by: Education committee CNS
• Course syllabus valid from: Autumn semester 2024

Specific Entry Requirements

• At least 120 credits in psychology, psychiatry, neuro science, medicine, or medical technology.
• Alternatively, 60 credits within psychology, psychiatry, neuro science, medicine, or medical technology on/at Secondary level.
• Proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

Outcomes

After taking the course, the student should be able to:

• Describe the function of the instruments used to perform structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetoencephalography (MEG).
• Describe basic principles for analysis of data from measurements using sMRI, fMRI, PET, EEG, and MEG.
• Give an overview of clinical and academic applications for each of the imaging methods.
• Give an overview of instruments and analysis methods used for multimodal brain imaging.

Content

The course covers the theoretical background to the brain imaging methods sMRI, fMRI, PET, EEG, and MEG, including what aspects of the human brain's structure and function they register, and the operation principles of the imaging instruments. The course provides a good understanding of how the different methods are used in academic research as well as in healthcare. It also addresses how the imaging methods can be combined in multimodal analyses and discusses the interplay between development of theory, instrumentation, method, and applications.

Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI), 1.5 credits

• Grading scale: GU
• The goal of the sMRI module is to provide students with a solid understanding of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and the tools available to analyze sMRI data.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), 1.5 credits

• Grading scale: GU
• In the fMRI module, students are introduced to the study of brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG), 1.5 credits

• Grading scale: GU
• The EEG and MEG module introduces students to the neural basis of the MEG and EEG signal.

Positron Emission Tomography, 1.5 credits

• Grading scale: GU
• This module introduces students to brain imaging using the nuclear imaging technique Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

Multimodal Brain Imaging, 1.0 credits

• Grading scale: GU
• Multimodal imaging has become a powerful way to investigate the human brain, link brain structure to brain function, and understand human behavior.

Individual Study Project, 0.5 credits

• Grading scale: GU
• At the end of the course, students deepen their knowledge in a particular topic of brain imaging in neuroscience with an individual study project.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods used in this course are self-study, teacher-led lectures and group discussions, and an individual advanced study project. Attendance is mandatory and requires active participation. The course is conducted online with the support of the Karolinska Institute digital learning platform.

Examination

Learning objectives are examined partly through a written quiz in connection with each course topic, active participation in the compulsory course meetings, and through an individual project. Each of the six course modules is graded with a Pass or Fail grade. To pass the course, a pass grade is required for all course modules, including the individual advanced study project.

Transitional Provisions

Examination will be provided for one year after a possible closure of the course or with a new syllabus.

Other Directives

The course is offered in English. Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established for education at Karolinska Institutet.

Literature and Other Teaching Aids

Mandatory Literature

• Op de Beeck, Introduction to Human Neuroimaging, Cambridge University Press, 2019
• Hooker, JM, Human Positron Emission Tomography Neuroimaging, Carson, RE, 2019

Recommended Literature

• Neuroimaging in Dementia, Barkhof, Frederik.; Fox, Nick C.; Bastos-Leite, António J.; Scheltens, Philip., 1., Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2011
• Brain Mapping: The Systems, Arthur W. Toga, Academic Press, 2000
• Hornak, Joseph P., The Basics of MRI, J.P. Hornak.
• Chen, Jingyuan E., Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods, Glover, Gary H., 2015
• Rosen, Bruce R, fMRI at 20: Has it changed the world?, Savoy, Robert L, 2012
• Poldrack, R.A., Progress and Challenges in Probing the Human Brain, Farah, M.J., 2015
• Vernaleken, Piel M, Positron emission tomography in CNS drug discovery and drug monitoring, Rösch, F, 2014
• Laruelle, M, Imaging synaptic neurotransmission with in vivo binding competition techniques: A critical review, 2000
• Baillet, Sylvain, Magnetoencephalography for brain electrophysiology and imaging., 2017
• Supek, Selma., Magnetoencephalography: From Signals to Dynamic Cortical Networks, Aine, Cheryl J., Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2014
• Kriegeskorte, N, Representational similarity analysis: Connecting the branches of systems neuroscience, Mur, M.; Bandettini, P, 2008
• Cichy, R.M., Resolving human object recognition in space and time, Pantazis, D; Oliva, A, 2014
• McKeith, IG, Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium, 2017
• Jack, CR, NIA-AA Research Framework: Toward a biological definition of Alzheimer's disease, 2018
• Thompson, Alan J, Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria, 2018
• Wardlaw, Joanna M, Neuroimaging standards for research into small vessel disease and its contribution to ageing and neurodegeneration, 2013