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Published on: July 12, 2012
Detection of neuronal current MRI in human without BOLD contamination
Qingfei Luo1, Xia Jiang, Jia-Hong Gao
1Department of Radiology, Brain Research Imaging Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
|July 21, 2011
Summary
Researchers investigated neuronal current magnetic resonance imaging (ncMRI) without background blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals. No significant ncMRI signal was detected, aligning with theoretical predictions and resolving prior detection controversies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biophysics
Background:
- Neuronal current magnetic resonance imaging (ncMRI) detectability has yielded controversial results.
- Previous studies detected ncMRI signals against a continuous blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal background.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ncMRI signal detection in the human brain with minimal or absent task-induced BOLD background.
- To determine if ncMRI is detectable when BOLD signal contamination is effectively avoided.
Main Methods:
- An event-related visuomotor paradigm with a long interstimulus interval (20s) was employed.
- ncMRI signal detection was assessed as the BOLD signal returned to its baseline.
Main Results:
- Visuomotor stimulation induced BOLD activation in visual and motor cortices.
- No significant change in ncMRI signal magnitude was detected in the human brain.
Conclusions:
- The absence of detectable ncMRI signal under these conditions is consistent with theoretical predictions.
- This study effectively minimized BOLD background contamination, providing clearer ncMRI signal assessment.
