Brain Imaging Center (BIC)

We offer 3T MRI, custom AV switching and streaming, and powerful neuroinformatics and computing infrastructure to support human neuroscience research, training, and teaching.

Core Website

Richard Watts, PhD

Primary Contact Director
Hours & Location
Building:

Dunham Laboratory

About the core

The Brain Imaging Center (BIC) was created to promote and facilitate cutting-edge and interdisciplinary human neuroscience research, training, and teaching.

Offerings

Our complete suite of instruments for brain imaging includes:

  • A Siemens 3T Prisma MRI scanner with 128-channel capacity, 64/32/20 channel head coils, 80 mT/m max gradient amplitude, 200 T/m/s slew rate, full neuro sequences (e.g., SMS multiband, advanced diffusion, quiet suite, real-time).
  • Two PST Hyperion projectors (rear screen, bore ceiling).
  • An Optoacoustics OptoACTIVE communication system with noise-cancelling headphones and microphone for audio stimulation during MRI.
  • An Avotec Silent Scan communication system, which offers noise-free communication during MRI.
  • A Current Designs 932 electronic interface and power supply, for use with fiber-optic pointing devices and the following response boxes:
  • SR Research EyeLink 1000 Plus , a customizable video-based eye tracker that samples binocularly at up to 2000 Hz. It can integrate with EEG, fMRI, MEG, ECoG, and other devices.
  • Physiological monitoring with BIOPAC EDA (electrodermal activity), an amplifier that allows measurement of skin conductance level and skin conductance response during MRI.
  • An AV system comprising a rack-based Crestron NVX switching platform with touchscreen controls and full mapping flexibility between sources and destinations.
  • Open-source XNAT bioinformatics software platform.

The Siemens computer that controls the scanner is plugged into Yale’s high-speed fiber Science network, with a direct connection to our offsite HIPAA-aligned high-performance computing cluster, Milgram, supported by the Yale Center for Research Computing.

Contacts

Primary contact

Richard Watts, PhD Director

Faculty Director

Nick Turk-Browne, PhD Professor, Department of Psychology