A practical and theoretical introduction into fMRI

Date and Venue: Oktober 12th-14th 2011, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

The course
This three-day course is intended for researchers planning to enter the field of functional MRI, is organized by seven researchers from Utrecht and Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and takes place at Utrecht University. We offer a theoretical introduction into fMRI acquisition, study design, and image analysis. Additionally, a large part of the course will consist of practical data analysis sessions using SPM8, supervised by all participating teachers. The course and the practicals are all presented in English.

Expected background of participants
The intended audience has a background in neuroscience, biology, psychology, physics, medicine, or a related field. No experience in fMRI analysis is required. Suggestions for how to prepare can be found here.

Organization
This course is organized in a joint effort by researchers from the Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience (University Medical Center Utrecht), the Helmholtz Institute (Utrecht University), and the Donders Institute (Radboud University Nijmegen). Utrecht is a convenient 30 min train ride from Amsterdam, so the course can be commuted from your FENS accomodation in Amsterdam.

Theoretical Lectures
The course will feature a series of theoretical lectures in the mornings that together cover all the basics of fMRI. Topics covered will include basic MR physics and image acquisition, (spatial) pre-processing of (f)MRI data, design and modeling using General Linear Models, and statistical inferential procedures. These lectures will provide students with the theoretical background knowledge required to complete the practical sessions.

Practical Sessions
Afternoons are reserved for highly interactive practical sessions, where students will acquire hands-on experience in data-analysis using SPM8. Five different datasets will be provided that together cover a wide range of acquisition techniques, experimental designs, and statistical methods. The assignments will range from easy walk-throughs for beginners to challenging brainteasers for the most ambitious students. SPM8 is developed and maintained at the department of Prof. Dr. Karl Friston from the Functional Imaging Laboratory (The Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience, University College London) and they kindly provide access to the open-source package on their website for everyone to use.

Guest Lectures
On Friday afternoon two additional lectures will be given by experts in more advanced topics that will provide a nice overview of cutting-edge methods within this rapidly developing field.

For the full course programme, click here.

Participation and registration
The maximum number of participants is limited to about 50 due to constraints regarding the equipment available for the practical sessions. Online registration will open in summer. The course fee amounts to € 360,-.

For more information about your registration, please email to registration@fmricourse.nl

For more information about the course, please email to info@fmricourse.nl

 
Warm regards,
 
The organizing committee

• S.F.W. Neggers (chair)
  • UMC Utrecht, Rudolf Magnus Institute, Dept of Psychiatry
• E.J. Hermans
  • Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior
• M. Vink
  • UMC Utrecht, Rudolf Magnus Institute, Dept of Psychiatry
• M.A.H.L.L. Raemaekers
  • Utrecht University, Helmholtz Institute, Functional Neurobiology
• Mariët van Buuren
  • UMC Utrecht, Rudolf Magnus Institute, Dept of Psychiatry
• S. Dumoulin
  • Utrecht University, Helmholtz Institute, Experimental Psychology
• T. Gutteling
  • UMC Utrecht, Rudolf Magnus Institute, Dept of Psychiatry