Behind the Brain

On April 2nd, 2024, researchers from France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) released the first human brain images taken by the Iseult MRI Scanner (the world’s strongest MRI scanner). These researchers had already used this machine to scan a pumpkin back in 2021, but they only recently got approval from the local government to continue with scanning humans. Once they tested Iseult on humans, they were shocked at the precision at which Iseult could scan. They discovered that Iseult could provide images showing vessels that feed the cerebral cortex. But what makes Iseult so much better than conventional MRI machines?

What is a MRI Machine?

When you go get an MRI scan, the doctor will put you in a large cylindrical device (called the MRI machine) as shown above. This machine creates a strong magnetic field, causing every single atom in your body to align with the magnetic field. The MRI machine then sends out radio waves that knock the atoms around. Once the radio waves are turned off, the atoms return to their original position and give off their own radio waves, which are detected by the MRI machine and converted into an image.

MRI machines have given rise to other magnetic resonance technologies, such as MRA and fMRI. MRA (magnetic resonance angiography), is used to determine how well blood in slowing through arteries and used to detect abnormalities of blood vessel (vascular abnormalities), while fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), is used to determine the exact location of the brain used for specific tasks, such as singing a certain song.

What is special about Iseult?

Why is Iseult so much more powerful than other MRI machines? Well first off, Iseult creates a magnetic field that is 11.7 teslas (unit of magnetic flux density AKA magnetic field strength). For context, typical MRI machines create about 1.5 tesla magnetic fields. The difference between different strengths of MRI machines, and their respective quality of image is shown below.

Iseult is very large for an MRI machine and for good reason. To create a 11.7 magnetic field, Iseult contains a cylinder with radius of 8 feet and length of 16 feet, which houses a 132 tonne magnet powered by a coil carrying a 1500 amps current. For humans to enter the machine, there is a 3 foot opening.

Iseult was built throughout the last two decades, by both French and German engineers. Two other countries, the US and South Korea, have already partnered to build a MRI machine of similar strength, although they haven’t tested their machine on humans. So currently, Iseult is a one of a kind.

What is the Purpose of Iseult?

Iseult is very powerful, but how will this help humanity and the scientific community? The researchers behind Iseult believe that Iseult can further shed light on specialized functions of the brain, through the use of fMRI. Additionally, Iseult can provide information as to what specific parts of the brain cause certain neurodegenerative diseases. For example, although we know that the hippocampus is closely related with Alzhiemer’s, so by studying the hippocampus of an Alzhiemer’s patient and an healthy volunteer with the precision of Iseult, researchers can narrow down on what causes Alzheimer’s. Lastly Iseult can be used to track how drugs that treat these neurodegenerative diseases distribute throughout the brain, to predict whether the drug will be helpful or not.