Xingfeng Li

2014

This book is about how to analyze perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and structural MRI (sMRI) data for investigating brain functions. Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to study brain function in vivo: one is bolus injection method and the other is noninvasive (no injections) method, e.g., blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast method. For the tracer injection method, we will introduce dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging (DSC-MRI), which we focus on the Dirac delta function (impulse function) as an input for studying the brain blood flow system. The basic indicator theory is explained in details. Both linear and nonlinear regression methods are employed to smooth the DSC-MRI concentration time course.