Quiet whole-brain functional MRI using Looping Star
Silent Functional MRI Using Looping Star
This project develops a much quieter way to measure brain activity so scans are easier for people with Alzheimer's and others bothered by loud MRI noise.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11291804 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a new, much quieter MRI method called Looping Star that aims to capture whole-brain activity while keeping typical image detail. The sequence uses very slowly changing gradient waveforms to cut down the loud bangs and rumbles of ordinary MRI scanners. Researchers will compare these quiet scans with standard fMRI to check image quality, participant comfort, and head movement, including in older adults with Alzheimer's and in people doing hearing-related tasks. If successful, quieter scans could let more people complete scans and produce clearer signals for research and possible future clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be older adults with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment and anyone who finds standard MRI noise intolerable.
Not a fit: People who do not need brain fMRI, who have MRI contraindications (such as certain implants), or whose care is unrelated to MRI scanning noise may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could make fMRI scans more comfortable and reliable for people with Alzheimer's, enabling better brain measurements and more people to complete scans.
How similar studies have performed: Quieter MRI techniques have shown promise in prior work, but applying the Looping Star approach to full, high-resolution functional brain imaging is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Noll, Douglas C — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Noll, Douglas C
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.