2023-09-18 14:06:25
Professor Stéphane Lehéricy is director of the CENIR neuroimaging platform (neuroimaging research center) at the Institut du Cerveau, head of the neuroradiology department at Pitié-Salpêtrière, co-head of the “Mov’It” team: Movement, Investigations, Therapeutics. Normal and abnormal movement: pathophysiology and experimental therapy”.
What is the CENIR platform?
The CENIR platform is specialized in neuroimagerie et neurophysiology. It offers the Institute’s research teams six pieces of equipment essential for the study of pathologies and the understanding of normal brain functioning: themagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)the TEP-IRMl’electroencephalography (EEG)the magnetoencephalography (MEG)THE transcranial electrical or magnetic stimulationl’stereotactic imaging and the ultrasound.
What is this equipment used for?
MRI provides multiple images of brain structure or function, PET-MRI combines positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI simultaneously, EEG records electrical signals from the brain, MEG explores modalities
visual, auditory and sensory cognitive, transcranial electrical or magnetic stimulations, make it possible to study excitatory, inhibitory or plasticity phenomena associated with motor, sensory or cognitive behavior.
MRI and imaging
Thanks to stereotactic imaging used for deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease for example, but also in drug-resistant epilepsies, it is possible to identify internal structures of the brain in three dimensions. Transcranial focused ultrasound is used for surgery and also to open the blood-brain barrier for more targeted and effective therapy.
How will the acquisition of a 7T MRI enable us to go further in certain projects or initiate new ones?
L’IRM 7 Tesla (7T) will greatly improve the quality of images. At 3T, the resolution of brain images is 500 microns to 1 millimeter or 1,000 microns. At 7T, we will be able to precisely observe structures of 200 microns, or 5 times smaller. Thanks to 7T MRI, entire areas of the brain will be revealed. The precision of the images will lead to a better knowledge of the anatomy, structure and functioning of the brain but also a better understanding of the diseases which affect it, therefore a finer diagnosis as well as more targeted and more effective treatments.
“Thanks to 7T MRI, entire areas of the brain will be revealed,” Stéphane Lehéricy.
It will also now be possible to target more precisely the areas to be stimulated or treated, such as brain tumors, while significantly limiting side effects.
This portrait can be found in Synapse magazine.
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