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by qrian 1601 days ago
Can this also do fMRI? I'm already trying to build DIY fnirs machine for cogsci research but if this does fMRI too I might build this one too.
2 comments

> We have experimentally estimated in our preliminary study that the apparent T1/T2 values for gray matter and white matter were approximately 330/110 ms and 260/100 ms at 0.055 T (vs. 1300/110 ms and 830/80 ms at 3 T51) while CSF maintains long T1 (>1500 ms) and T2 (>1000 ms).

That's not particularly different from normal MRIs, and the achieved resolution is not that much worse than normal MRIs. The scans have lower contrast (and repeated/longer scans is one way to improve that) and using for functional imaging will make that worse, but honestly it doesn't seem to have suffered very much at all.

> First, these scanners rely on complex superconducting electromagnet/cryogenics designs and ever increasingly powerful electronics (including gradient and radiofrequency power systems) for fast imaging and/or advanced imaging features like brain functional MRI and diffusion tractography, yet routine clinical uses only necessitate a small portion of these imaging protocols.

I guess this implies not?

That's talking about a conventional scanner, the article is about a permanent magnet and a more straight forward design.
I guess then I will have to wait for someone much more knowledgable in mechanical engineering than me to answer. Thanks for the input.