The Locus Coeruleus (LC) is the main source of cerebral noradrenaline, which modulates many cognitive domains from attention and motivation to mood and memory. However, the LC is a small structure located in the mid-brain, proven difficult to detect in-vivo. We studied healthy individuals using high-resolution MT-w, R2*, QSM, and fMRI at 7T to characterize the LC’s shape and size, magneto-chemical and functional properties. While no R2* or QSM contrast was found in the LC, it was clearly detected in MT-images and showed widespread functional connectivity towards cortex and cerebellum, These results are the benchmark for future studies in dementia.
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