| The objective of this thesis is to implement the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and apply it to psychiatric research. Prior to this work only magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used at the University of Alberta for evaluation of changes in human brain chemistry and structure. Functional MRI hardware for paradigm delivery and response collection, and software for analysis and presentation of fMRI results, were installed, set up, and tested. Specific cognitive paradigms were then developed to evaluate areas of the brain involved in language, reaction time, working memory, and motor activity. These paradigms were tested on volunteers and then applied to a psychiatric study of medications used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.; A double blind, placebo-controlled drug study was used to investigate the effects of lithium and dextroamphetamine on cerebral blood flow and brain activity. Dextroamphetamine and lithium were both found to decrease brain activation as measured using fMRI. Also, lithium was able to reverse the effects of dextroamphetamine stimulation after treatment. |
