Advanced MRI- 1 Flashcards
What is the Brownian motion of water?
- Water molecules are constantly diffusing if they have thermal energy
- Is a random, translational motion
What does t represent?
A given diffusion time
What is the formula for root mean squared displacement?
= 6Dt
What time of process if diffusion?
-time dependent
What does root mean squared displacement of molecules means? What is its role in diffusion?
-Molecules diffuse further from their starting point as time increases
What does D represent and what is this value dependent upon?
- Diffusion coefficient
- Temperature dependent
What is D for water at 37*C?
3.0 x 10-3mm2 s-1
What is isotropic diffusion?
What is the shape of the root mean squared displacement?
- Diffusion that is same in all directions
- Sphere
What is anisotropic diffusion?
Diffusion is hindered along some directions more than others
Describe diffusion in cerebrospinal fluid
- Diffusion is free
- Same in all directions
- Isotropic
- Essentially free water
- So D is 3.0 x 10-3mm2 s-1
Describe diffusion in grey matter
- Hindered diffusion in all directions due to the presence of neuronal structure
- Isotropic
- So D is smaller, 0.8x10-3mm2s-1
Describe diffusion in white matter
- Hindered
- Anisotropic
- Greater diffusion along the axonal structure than across
- Cylindrical Shape (ellipsoid)
- D is 0.8x10-3mm2s-1
What is Diffusion MRI and how is it useful?
- Stands for diffusion magnetic resonance
- Used to measure the brain structure
- Infers brain structure by measuring diffusion of hydrogen ions
- essentially quantifies water diffusion in mm2s-1
How is D MRI used to view white matter?
- Used to infer health of white matter microstructure
- Reveals white matter damage in disease
What are 2 advantages of D MRI?
- Non-invasive (involves no radiation, i.e. safe for subject)
- Good spatial resolution (~2mm3)