FURI | Fall 2021

Directly Relating Magnetic Resonance Electrical Impedance Tomography (MREIT) Data to Membrane Conductivity during Neural Activity In Vitro

This research is concerned with analyzing a new type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) which may be able to be used to more directly image brain activity. By measuring where electrical current is flowing through the brain, MREIT should be able to show which areas are more conductive, and therefore more active. The results of this research show that MREIT is indeed able to directly relate neural activity to measurable conductivity change, supporting this technique’s further development for functional medical imaging for understanding and treating the brain.