The 'wet mind': water and functional neuroimaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biophysics
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Functional neuroimaging techniques like PET and MRI traditionally rely on the coupling between neuronal activation, metabolism, and blood flow.
• While effective, these methods have limitations in spatial and temporal resolution.
• A novel approach using diffusion MRI to observe water molecule diffusion during brain activation presents a new paradigm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent data on water's physical properties and its status in biological tissues.
• To evaluate the relevance of these properties to brain diffusion MRI.
• To reassess biophysical mechanisms of brain activation in relation to water's physical properties.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on water's physical properties and its role in biological tissues.
• Analysis of existing data on diffusion MRI and brain activation.
• Biophysical reevaluation of neuronal activation mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Both PET and MRI functional imaging rely on water molecule measurements, though through different physical principles.
• Diffusion MRI offers a potential new pathway to study brain activity by directly observing water molecule diffusion.
• This diffusion-based approach may provide a more intimate link to neuronal mechanisms, potentially improving resolution.

Conclusions:

• Water plays a fundamental role in brain imaging, underpinning both traditional and emerging techniques.
• Diffusion MRI's observation of water molecule diffusion presents a promising avenue for understanding brain activation.
• Further research is needed to fully confirm and understand the link between water's physical properties and brain activation, potentially establishing water as the 'molecule of the mind'.