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Molecular and Functional Neuroimaging

Prof. MUDr. Ivan Rektor, CSc.
Research Group Leader

THEMATIC RESEARCH FOCUS

RESEARCH AREAS

Research group is intended mainly to ensure / support the operation of imaging Molecular and Functional Imaging Core Facility. In addition, the research group participates on these research topics:

• Development and improvement of imaging methods
• Development and implementation of data analysis methods
• Research on functional brain organisation, plasticity and connectivity using imaging methods
• Development of new diagnostic methods

MAIN OBJECTIVES

• Development of new molecular and functional imaging methods and their translation into clinical neuroscience.
• Usage of the multimodal approach to the advanced study of cognitive and behavioural functions.

CONTENT OF RESEARCH

Principles in neural connectivity underlying normal and pathological brain processing

The research group will be participating in the specific work package by providing expertise in data collection and their analyses, by development and implementation of new neuroimaging techniques and data analysis. The research will be performed in the areas of multimodal imaging, computational neuroscience, and the analysis of intracerebral EEG signal.

Mechanisms of CNS adaptation on pathological factors and therapy

The structural measures and functional properties of the brain will be studied using the high field MR techniques (event related fMR and spectroscopy, tractography and others), the high frequency event related electrophysiological methods) handled by this research group. The influence of pharmacotherapy and neurostimulation methods on brain properties will be studied using the pharmacoMR and the measures of brain excitability (TMS).

MR technology for high-field MR imaging and spectroscopy

The work package is closely coupled to the major instrumentation in Molecular and Functional Imaging Core Facility. The development will be oriented to the maximum utilisation of the high spatial and spectral resolution available at the high field by addressing the specific challenges of high-field MR (RF field limitations, wave behaviour at 7T, contrast mechanism alteration) and the needs of molecular and functional imaging of in-vivo and ex-vivo subjects. Special attention will be paid to the development of efficient experimental and data processing techniques for robust, fast MR spectroscopic imaging.

KEY RESEARCH EQUIPMENT

PLANNED RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

Core Facility

The research group will be one of the principal users of the equipment available within CEITEC Molecular and Functional Imaging Core Facility.

Technology Units

• Computational neuroscience
• Laboratory for cognitive and behavioral sciences
• Pain research laboratory

CURRENT RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

MR Siemens Magnetom Symphony 1.5T, MR compatible EEG (BrainAmp) 32 channels, Video EEG system (Alien) 128 channels, EEG system (BrainScope) 96 channels.

MAIN PROJECTS

• Functional brain correlates related to negative symptoms of schizophrenia treatment by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (NS9890), Ministry of Health, 2009-2011, M. Mikl, Masaryk University, R. Přikryl, University Hospital Brno.
• The Optimization of methodics of analysis and evaluation of the simultaneous EEG-fMRI in patient with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (GAP304/11/1318), Czech Science Foundation, 2011-2013, M. Brazdil, Masaryk University, R. Kuba, St. Anne´s University Hospital Brno, J. Jan, Brno University of Technology.
• The Internal Organisation and Neurobiological Mechanisms of Functional CNS Systems under Normal and Pathological Conditions (MSM0021622404), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, 2005-2011, I. Rektor, Masaryk University.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• MIKL, M., MARECEK, R., HLUSTIK, P., PAVLICOVA, M., DRASTICH, A., CHLEBUS, P., BRAZDIL, M., KRUPA, P. Effects of spatial smoothing on fMRI group inferences. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2008, 26(4), p. 490-503.
• REKTOROVA, I., BARRETT, J., MIKL, M., REKTOR, I., PAUS, T. Functional abnormalities in the primary orofacial sensorimotor cortex during speech in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders. 2007, 22(14), p. 2043-2051.
• BRAZDIL, M., MIKL, M., MARECEK, R., KRUPA, P., REKTOR, I. Effective connectivity in target stimulus processing: A dynamic causal modeling study of visual oddball task. NeuroImage. 2007, 35(2), p. 827-835.
• REKTOR, I., REKTOROVA, I., MIKL, M., BRAZDIL, M., KRUPA, P. An event-related fMRI study of self-paced alphabetically ordered writing of single letters. Experimental Brain Research. 2006, 173(1), p. 79-85.
• STARCUK, Z., MLYNARIK, V., RODEN, M., HORKY, J., MOSER, E. Low-power water suppression by hyperbolic secant pulses with controlled off sets and delays (WASHCODE). Journal of magnetic resonance. 2001, 152(1), p. 168-178.