Researchers at Duke’s Center for In Vivo Microscopy, in collaboration with other institutions, have achieved a breakthrough in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, capturing the highest resolution images ever of a mouse brain. Using an incredibly powerful 9.4 Tesla magnet, 100 times stronger gradient coils than those used in clinical MRIs, and a high-performance computer, the team generated scans with voxels (cubic pixels) measuring just 5 microns, 64 million times smaller than those in a clinical MRI.

The team combined these high-resolution MRI scans with light sheet microscopy, a complementary technique that allows for specific cell labeling, to create vivid and detailed images of the entire mouse brain. These images provide unprecedented insights into brain connectivity, changes in brain structure with age, and the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The researchers believe that this breakthrough in MRI resolution will greatly enhance our understanding of diseases, leading to better insights into conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and how they may affect the human brain. The ability to visualize the brain in such microscopic detail opens up new possibilities for studying the effects of diet, drugs, and other interventions on brain health and longevity.