Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

07:13
Cerebral Blood Flow-Based Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Human Brain using Optical Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2020
Spontaneous fMRI activity during resting wakefulness and sleep
1Section for Advanced MRI, LFMI, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. jhd@helix.nih.gov
Progress in Brain Research
|August 23, 2011
Summary
Spontaneous brain activity detected via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during rest and sleep reveals consistent patterns. This review explores the origins of this intrinsic brain activity and its relation to functional connectivity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The brain exhibits continuous intrinsic activity even during resting states.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a key tool for observing this spontaneous neural activity.
- This activity appears organized into distinct patterns related to functional connectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss the potential sources of spontaneous fMRI activity.
- To enhance understanding of the brain's intrinsic functional architecture.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on spontaneous fMRI activity.
- Analysis of studies conducted during both waking rest and sleep.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous fMRI activity is a consistent feature of brain function across different states.
- These patterns suggest an underlying, organized functional connectivity network.
- Multiple potential sources contribute to this observed activity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding spontaneous fMRI activity is crucial for interpreting brain function.
- Further research into the sources of this activity will elucidate brain organization and dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
Sleep-Wake Cycles
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...

