Neuroimaging platform (NIMA)

Technical and scientific expertise

• Methodological, statistical and technical support at all stages of human neuroscience studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Coordination of the use of MRI by neuroscience researchers
• Training for MRI users
• Certification of researchers who wish to carry out MRI acquisitions independently (in collaboration with the radiology department of Saint-Luc University Hospital)
• Scientific monitoring of methodological, statistical and technical advances
• Maintenance and development of research equipment for MRI
• Setting up and maintaining an MRI data management system

Main equipment

• 3T MRI model SIGNA^TM Premier (General Electric Company) equipped with a 48-channel head antenna
• MRI-compatible hardware for stimulation (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.) and recording of participants’ behavioural and/or physiological responses
• NordicNeuroLab equipment:
  • 32-inch full HD LCD screen
  • Audio system (frequency range: 8 Hz to 35 kHz)
  • Subject response device
  • Stimuli synchronisation device
• Support for development of MRI-compatible devices and testing of new hardware

Applications

• Functional neuroimaging (BOLD contrast) with task or at rest
• Functional neuroimaging by pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (pcASL)
• Functional brain connectivity
• Morphometric brain imaging (volumetry, cortical thickness, curvature, etc.)
• Diffusion imaging (white matter microstructure, brain fibre visualisation, structural brain connectivity)
• Myelin mapping
• Mapping of brain lesions
• Spectroscopy and functional spectroscopy (H-fMRS)

Services available to

• UCLouvain students, clinicians and researchers
• University and industry partners (request a quote)