Study for the Evaluation of the Feasibility of Applying Advanced MRI Scanning in Clinical Practice

An MPRAGE is a high quality anatomical image of the brain. This is used as an anatomical overlay, so that all data collected from the advanced sequences below can be correlated with the correct brain areas in three dimensional space. 1. Resting BOLD - BOLD stands for blood oxygen level dependent. This functional sequence allows for the viewing of the thinking brain at rest, and looks at brain areas that are functionally working together at the same time. The brain is in one of its most active states when it is at rest, and literature has shown that a few neurological illnesses such as OCD, depression, and pain have been associated with analyzing the data in this sequence. 2. Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) - ASL tracks the blood flow in the brain visually and gives a statistical value of how much blood is in each region in cc's per 100 grams of brain per second. 3. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) - DTI tractography shows the different fiber tracts in the brain using a 3D model. Fiber tracts are the physical neural pathways that can show disruption or connection in communication between different areas of the brain. This is an effective technique when looking at traumatic brain injury. 4. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) - MRS measures the ratios of select chemical compounds in the brain in relation to each other. This has shown to be effective in analyzing memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's type disorders. 5. Stimulated BOLD - The same sequence as the resting BOLD, except the brain is being scanned during the completion of a task, instead of rest. By specifying the task (visual, problem solving, language, etc), the different areas of the brain working together to complete this task can be imaged. This is very effective for task specific symptoms and deficits. The methods and procedures in this study are all under the observational category. MRI's are FDA approved and are non-experimental devices. The goal of this research is to assess the feasibility of the scan itself, so everything done with respect to the scan is considered observational in nature. If the subject drops out of the study, anything described in this protocol will still be able available to the subject as standard medical care. The observational procedures will involve recording data for the advanced MRI scans, and no information will be shared for research if the subject does not sign the consent form.