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Member of the Institut de France (Academy of Sciences) and of the Academy of Technologies Visiting Professor, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine Head of NeuroSpin, CEA, Saclay, France
The understanding of how the human brain works has considerable potential, not only for health care (addressing the expenses of ma- naging neurological and psychiatric patients or simply aging popu- lations), but also for improving human cognition in general (through improved teaching methods, communication between individuals, development of human-machine interfaces, etc...). At NeuroSpin our aim is to explore the brain at spatial and temporal scales which may give access to the neural code, by pushing the current limits of brain imaging, from mouse to man, as far as possible with ultra- high magnetic field (UHF) Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spec- troscopy. NeuroSpin is being equipped with unique MRI systems operating at very high magnetic field strengths not yet available elsewhere in the world, as well as related tools and an advanced computer platform. Our "world first" equipment include a 17.2T 250mm horizontal magnet (installed in 2010) and a 900mm 11.7T whole-body system (to be delivered in 2015). NeuroSpin is thus in good position to address either methodological developments or neuroscience and clinical applications of MRI. Results are expected to impact not only health care, but also industry, artificial intelligence, social sciences and the humanities.