Abstract: A data acquisition system for use in conducting functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. fMRI studies can provide clues to the neurobiological basis of CNS disorders and reliable and quantifiable data relating to their symptoms. The data acquisition system includes a control station, a patient stimulus and response system and fMRI data acquisition software for controlling the operation of the system in response to operator input and acquiring fMRI data comprising MR images and associated behavioral response data. The stimulus and response system presents visual or auditory or other stimuli to the patient under direction of the control station while functional MRI scanning takes place. The MRI image data is collected from the MRI scanner and combined with the behavioral data generated as the patient responds to the stimuli and archived for later analysis and use.

Abstract: A system based on the use of fMRI techniques for use in detecting neurological abnormalities indicative of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in determining the severity of ADHD and in gauging the efficacy of medications used in treating ADHD. The system includes the steps of activating a selected region of the brain which is known to be affected by ADHD using a working memory and sustained attention task such as an N-Back task and concurrently acquiring fMRI image data responsive to the task. The patient's task-active fMRI data is then compared to reference fMRI data derived from a database of task-active fMRI data acquired from healthy individuals and determining whether the patient has symptoms related to ADHD. The extent of the patient's ADHD related symptoms and the severity of the disorder may also be assessed.

Abstract: A system for using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for detecting symptoms indicative of Parkinson's disease, diagnosing Parkinson's disease and gauging the efficacy of medications used in treating Parkinson's disease. The system includes process steps involving activating a selected region of the brain which may be affected by Parkinson's disease using a delayed response motor sequence type task, concurrently acquiring task-active MRI data responsive to the task, comparing the patient's task-active MRI data to reference data derived from a database of task-active data from healthy individuals and detecting whether the patient has symptoms related to Parkinson's disease. The severity of the patient's symptoms and the staging of the disease may also be determined. Also, a medication may be administered to the patient and the efficacy of the medication may gauged based on the severity of the patient's symptoms on and off of medication.

Abstract: A system for using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for detecting symptoms indicative of Alzheimer's disease, diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and gauging the efficacy of medications used in treating Alzheimer's disease. The system includes steps involving activating a selected region of the brain which may be affected by Alzheimer's disease using an identity recognition type task, concurrently acquiring task-active MRI data responsive to the task, comparing the patient's task-active MRI data to reference data derived from a database of task-active data from healthy individuals and detecting whether the patient has symptoms related to Alzheimer's disease. The severity of the patient's symptoms and the staging of the disease may also be determined. Also, a medication may be administered to the patient and the efficacy of the medication may be gauged based on the severity of the patient's symptoms.

Abstract: A system for assessing the medical effectiveness of therapies such as pharmaceutical medications for use in treating central nervous system disorders. Functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques are utilized in measuring neural activity induced by specific activation tasks in specific regions of the brain that are known to be affected by a central nervous system disorder. The levels of neural activity induced in patients subject to the disorder when on and off of the therapy are compared and then compared with normative data generated with respect to healthy individuals under comparable conditions. These comparisons quantify and assess the efficacy of the therapy.

Abstract: A system for detecting neural abnormalities associated with specific central nervous system disorders in patients suspected of suffering from said disorders and for assisting in assessing the staging of said disorders in patients suffering from said disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques are used to generate fMRI time series image data with respect to a selected regions of interest in the brain known to be affected by given disorders in response to activation tasks known to induce neural activity specifically in these regions. The fMRI data is used in generating statistically based standards and profiles by which abnormalities can be identified and the staging of disorders can be assessed. The results are diagrammatically or graphically displayed so that the data, standards and profiles can be usefully compared.