High Performance Computing to Facilitate Analysis of Brain

Scientists at CUBRIC analyzing MRI scan data (photo courtesy: CUBRIC, Cardiff Univ., UK)

The Cardiff University Brain and Repair Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) is one of the first facilities in the UK to combine Structural and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI/fMRI) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and is devoted to pioneering advanced brain scanning techniques (fMRI/MEG) capable of mapping the structure and function of the healthy and impaired brain.

Last week, scientists at CUBRIC announced that they could use high-performance computing to analyze brain scans 24 times faster than was previously possible, giving a more complete view of the brain.

The technique overlays two types of magnetic images, magneto encephalography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, to provide single, comprehensive examination of the brain. Using the 300-node cluster, scientists can analyse 100 complete brain images in just 16 minutes. The analysis involves use of complex mathematical techniques on data sets and in the past that would take significant time. Now, it's possible to take a deeper look into a complex organ and how it reacts to adverse conditions.

Scientists have also found that the processing power has allowed them to achieve more in each visit, reducing the overall number of costly visits necessary for their research.