Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRES7008)

Course overview

Interrogating sensory, motor & cognitive processes with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Neural & vascular mechanisms contributing to the fMRI signal. Procedures involved in conducting fMRI investigations. Issues in experimental design & analysis. Relevance to clinical diagnosis. Current research status.

This course introduces functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methods used to study human brain function. Students will acquire a broad understanding of how MRI imaging is typically used in neuroscientific research and will conduct imaging experiments.

The topics to be covered include:

• Introduction and history of brain mapping
• Physiological basis of the BOLD signal.
• MRI Physics for fMRI & Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) Principles
• EPI Artefacts, Optimisation & Advanced Acquisition techniques
• Experimental Design in fMRI
• Running fMRI experiments
• fMRI Data Preprocessing
• Statistical analysis using the General Linear Model (GLM) for first-level (single-subject) and second-level (group) analysis.
• Functional Connectivity Analysis
• Clinical Applications of fMRI, including presurgical mapping, epilepsy and clinical research.
• Practical hands-on analysis sessions

Course requirements

Assumed background

Undergraduate qualification in radiography, biomedical engineering or medical physics (or international equivalent)

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

Admission to Magnetic Resonance Technology postgraduate program suite + (MRES7001 or MRES7100) + MRES7004

Jointly taught details

This course is jointly-taught with:

• Another instance of the same course

This course is offered internally and externally.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

MRES7008 aims to introduce students to the functional MRI of the brain and provide a broad and detailed understanding of this branch of neuroscience. This course includes the opportunity to design functional brain imaging experiments, analyse task-based and resting-state fMRI data using the most popular research software (e.g., SPM, CONN), and draw conclusions based on the findings. Functional connectivity and clinical applications will also be discussed. This course will equip students with the ability to undertake fMRI research, identify common pitfalls, and critically interpret the findings of fMRI experiments.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Online Quizes

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

20% equally weighted

Due date

Quiz 1 should be submitted prior to: 8/08/2025 5:00 pm

Quiz 2 should be submitted prior to: 15/08/2025 5:00 pm

Quiz 3 should be submitted prior to: 5/09/2025 5:00 pm

Quiz 4 should be submitted prior to: 19/09/2025 5:00 pm

Quiz 5 should be submitted prior to: 17/10/2025 5:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

An extension/deferral is not available for this quiz due to the answers being discussed in the next available tutorial. However, successful applications for an extension in extenuating circumstances may be offered an alternative assessment. If there are extenuating circumstances why you were unable to complete your quiz then please email smp.student@uq.edu.au. You will need to do this within 5 calendar days of your quiz and include evidence (e.g., medical certificate). 

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

The quizzes are open for 5 days (Monday to Friday) and cannot be accessed once closed. A 100% penalty will be applied if the quiz is not attempted within that period.  

Essay - Written Assignment

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

20%

Due date

26/09/2025 5:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Your essay should be submited via Turnitin. Students are permitted to submit a draft prior to final submission.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Report and Presentation

• Identity Verified

Mode

Oral, Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation

Weight

20% specific weighting

Due date

Presentation slides are due: 17/10/2025 5:00 pm

Oral Presentation will be given in class 29/10/2025

Practical report is due: 31/10/2025 5:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Presentation slides should be submitted via blackboard. The oral presentation will be given in class week 13. The practical report should be submitted via turnitin. Draft versions of the presentation and practical report can be submtted prior to the final submission.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Final Examination

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

A maximum of a grade of 3 will be awarded if less than 45% is achieved in the final examination.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment in this course will be a 2-hour examination similar in style to the end-of-semester examination. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Submission of Assignments

Submission of assignments by EMAIL will NOT BE ACCEPTED.

All written assignments eg. essays, reports, proposals, literature reviews etc must be submitted through Turnitin.

Turnitin submission

1. Access the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site
2. Upload an electronic version through the assessment Turnitin site
3. You will be sent a receipt, retain the receipt as proof of submission.
4. If you don't receive a receipt, then your assignment has not been submitted - please re-submit.

Failure to submit on time will result in a late penalty being applied (see the assessment task for details). You need to ensure that you submitted by the due date, late submission will result in the late penalty being imposed.

PLAGIARISM: You should be aware that the University employs purpose-built software to detect plagiarism. It is very important that you understand clearly the practical meaning of plagiarism.

Students are encouraged to read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) which makes a comprehensive statement about the University's approach to plagiarism, including the approved use of plagiarism detection software, the consequences of plagiarism and the principles associated with preventing plagiarism.

DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.

EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM:

1. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence;

2. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence with an end reference but without quotation marks around the copied text;

3. Copying ideas, concepts, research results, computer codes, statistical tables, designs, images, sounds or text or any combination of these;

4. Paraphrasing, summarising or simply rearranging another person's words, ideas, etc without changing the basic structure and/or meaning of the text;

5. Offering an idea or interpretation that is not one's own without identifying whose idea or interpretation it is;

6. A 'cut and paste' of statements from multiple sources;

7. Presenting as independent, work done in collaboration with others;

8. Copying or adapting another student's original work into a submitted assessment item.

Artificial Intelligence

To pass this course, students will be required to demonstrate a detailed understanding of course material together with a range of associated skills independent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) tools.

For assessment tasks that are completed in-person (including examinations) termed “secure assessment”, the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted unless otherwise advised. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

 Other non-secure assessment tasks (such as assignments) are designed to help you develop your understanding and skills, and to prepare you for secure assessment. You are thus generally encouraged to complete such assessment without the use of AI/MT, unless explicitly advised to the contrary in the assessment item. In any event, if you choose to use such tools, then you must clearly reference any such use within your submitted work. A failure to reference AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum date applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.