Civitan Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory

Director: Mark Bolding, PhD

e-mail: mbolding@uab.edu

The Civitan Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (CFNL) is located on the first floor of the Civitan International Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It houses a research dedicated Siemens Allegra 3T head-only scanner for structural and functional brain imaging, an MRI preparation room for pre- and post-scan patient monitoring, and a fully-equipped experimental suite for behavioral recording.

Single and 4 channel TR head coils are available for use with the Siemens Allegra 3T scanner. Standard Siemens pulse sequences are used in general although some have been modified for research purposes. Triggering signals are available for investigators to synchronize stimulus presentation and behavioral monitoring with scans.

The CFNL is equipped with an IFIS-SA system for audio/visual stimulation. Visual stimulus presentation can be delivered using an advanced fiber optic system (IFIS-SA) or using back-projection with an LCD projector and a screen at the end of the patient table.

Auditory stimuli are presented using a pneumatic headphone system (IFIS-SA). Behavioral measurement can be accomplished using IFIS-SA button response units or fORP joystick and button boxes. Cardiac and respiratory functions can be monitored using an Invivo remote physiological monitoring system. In addition, Eyelink equipment and software is available for eyetracking during scanning.

Scans available: Functional (BOLD) MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, as well as other traditional T1 and T2-weighted structural scans.

Equipment 3T Siemens Allegra MRI scanner

Center Affiliation Civitan International Research Center

Serving - UAB Internal and External