MSci Neuroscience / Course details

You will gain an understanding of how cutting edge imaging methods are used in medical, anatomical and life science research. Guided by recent publications you will learn about the type of research that can be addressed with each of the presented imaging techniques. Among the techniques covered will be light microscopy, electron microscopy and fluorescence based imaging, computed tomography, radiography, super resolution microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging.

To provide students with an understanding of how cutting edge imaging methods are used in medical, anatomical and life science research. Guided by recent publications the students will learn about the type of research that can be addressed with each of the presented imaging techniques. The course will provide an understanding of the nature of the signal as well as spatial and temporal constraints.

• Understand the differences in functional and anatomical imaging approaches
• Be able to describe the nature of the signal and how it is detected and measured with each of the imaging techniques
• Understand the spatial and temporal constraints of different imaging techniques
• Appreciate the advantages and drawbacks of different imaging techniques
• Be able to discuss which of the imaging methods covered in the course are suitable to address a given research problem

After a general introduction of terms and properties important to most imaging modalities, the initial lectures will discuss research at the sub-millimetre scale investigating cells and tissues in health and disease. This will include light microscopy, electron microscopy and fluorescence based imaging. From there, with increasing spatial scale, we will look at imaging of anatomical and functional structures in biomedical research. The course will finish with imaging methods that look at function and metabolism of the whole brain and the human body. Some of the methods covered are computed tomography, radiography, magnetic resonance imaging. The knowledge provided will form an essential foundation to many of the lab-based projects that rely on imaging in biomedical research.

eLearning activity

An e-learning module (10% of mark) in the form of multiple choice questions will supplement each research paper discussed to aid the students in understanding the significant contribution of these seminal pieces of research have made.

2 hours examination (90%) - essay questions.

Other: e-learning module (10%), essay (formative)

Time is provided at the end of each lecture for questions and feedback from students. There is a dedicated discussion forum in Blackboard where students can address questions about the lecture material. We will provide formative feedback on a past exam question that can be submitted at any time during the semester. The final session in the semester is a dedicated question and answer session that wraps up all the lectures and gives the opportunity for exam specific feedback. A mock essay exam with model answers is available.

The course utilises review and research papers but the following texts can provide useful background information:

Recommended Reading

1. Dhawan, AT, Medical Image Analysis, John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2003, Background
2. Guy, C & Ffytche, D, An Introduction to the Principles of Medical Imaging (Revised Edition), Imperial College Press, 2005, Background
3. Hibbs, AR, Confocal Microscopy for Biologists, Plenum, 2004, Background
4. Toga, M (eds.), Brain Mapping: The Methods, Academic Press, 2002, Background
5. Donald W. McRobbie, Elizabeth A. Moore, Martin J. Graves and Martin R. Prince. MRI From picture to proton, Cambridge University press.
6. Saha, G.B., Basics of PET Imaging. 3rd ed. 2016. ed. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-16423-62016, Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.