Abstract: Systems and methods for producing imaging biomarkers that indicate a tissue state in the nervous system of a subject based on diffusion tensor imaging (“DTI”) of the subject's spinal cord or brain are provided. The imaging biomarker can indicate a tissue state in the central nervous system (e.g., brain or spinal cord) of a subject based on DTI of the subject's spinal cord. As another example, however, the imaging biomarker can indicate a tissue state in the subject's spinal cord based on DTI of the subject's brain. The imaging biomarker is also capable of determining an efficacy of a treatment administered to a subject's spinal cord.

Abstract: A visual defect simulation system receives a functional field map produced by an MRI system that relates locations in a patient's brain to locations in the patient's field of view. Planned medical operations are indicated at locations in the patient's brain and any resulting vision loss is simulated with a revised functional field map. A scene is displayed and an impairment overlay is produced from the revised functional field map that blocks the scene at locations corresponding to simulated vision loss. The overlay is translated over the scene in response to viewer eye movements detected by a vision-tracking system to present a real-time simulation of the resulting vision loss.

Abstract: Neurovascular uncoupling that causes fMRI data to underestimate viable neuronal activity in the brain is detected and indicated to assist in pre-surgical planning. Tasks associated with the cortical region in question are performed while the fMRI measurement of brain activity is measured and the same tasks are performed while task performance is measured directly. Neurovascular uncoupling is detected and indicated by comparing the results of fMRI measurement and direct measurement.

Abstract: Time course MRI data is acquired from the hippocampal region of the brain and processed to produce an index which is a measure of the functional connectivity between locations therein. The MRI data is acquired while the brain is substantially at rest and the spontaneous low frequency component of the time course data at each location in the hippocampus is extracted and compared in a cross-correlation process.

Abstract: An EPI pulse sequence is performed by an MRI system which acquires images of the brain over a time interval during which the subject performs a function or is stimulated in a pattern. An fMRI parameter is calculated for each voxel which indicates those regions of the brain that are active during the study. The same acquired NMR data is employed in a jackknife method for recalculating the fMRI parameter many times and from the distribution of the recalculated values a confidence level indicator is produced. Low confidence level indicators are used to exclude regions which are otherwise indicated as active.

Abstract: An EPI pulse sequence is performed by an MRI system which acquires images of the brain over a time interval during which the subject performs a function or is stimulated in a pattern. An fMRI parameter is calculated for each voxel which indicates those regions of the brain that are active during the study. The same acquired NMR data is employed in a jackknife method for recalculating the fMRI parameter many times and from the distribution of the recalculated values a confidence level indicator is produced. Low confidence level indicators are used to exclude regions which are otherwise indicated as active.