Information technology

Visit to the research MRI of the Science Hub Neuroscience at Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Published

04/20/2026

A group of people stand in a modern laboratory room at the Science Hub Neuroscience at Ruhr-Universität Bochum. In the background, a research MRI can be seen through a large pane of glass. The people are standing next to each other, some are smiling, one person is wearing an orange dress, others are dressed casually. The walls are white, the ceiling is made of square panels and daylight enters through large windows. There are several colored pictograms and warnings on the glass pane of the MRI room. The room contains technical equipment and a desk with a computer.

On April 8, 2026, members of the Faculty of Information Technology at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts visited the research MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) system of the Science Hub Neuroscience at Ruhr-Universität Bochum together with Prof. Dr. Lara Schlaffke . The visit provided a direct insight into working with an MRI system that is primarily used for research questions in the neurosciences.

In the center is a large MRI machine from the Science Hub Neuroscience at Ruhr University Bochum. A person is lying relaxed on the examination table and is being looked after by another person who is standing at the head end and talking to the person lying down. Two other people observe the scene from the foreground. The room is bright and modern, with white walls and ceilings and subtle red lighting accents.

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Insight into work processes and measurement technology

As part of the excursion, the participants were able to learn about the typical processes involved in an MRI measurement - from preparation through to imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging is an imaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body without using X-rays. It is used in research to examine the structure and function of the brain, among other things.

A computer monitor shows MRI image data from the research MRI of the Science Hub Neuroscience at Ruhr University Bochum. Four different sectional images of a human head can be seen on the screen, each in different planes and views. On the right is a structured list with file names and parameters. In the foreground are a telephone and a control panel with buttons. The environment looks like a control room with other technical devices.

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Practical teaching during studies

Some of the group also had the opportunity to take images on the device themselves. Such excursions are part of the practice-oriented teaching: in the "Diagnosis and Therapy" module, students already had the opportunity to understand how an MRI system works directly on the machine in the previous semester.

In this way, content from studies, research and practical application are specifically linked together.