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Updated: May 16, 2026
Co-analysis of Brain Structure and Function using fMRI and Diffusion-weighted Imaging
Published on: November 8, 2012
Functional diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the human primary visual cortex at 7 T
Francesca Branzoli1, Aranee Techawiboonwong, Hermien Kan
1C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
Microstructural and metabolic changes directly related to neuronal activation have been investigated using functional diffusion-weighted spectroscopy.
Methods:
The volume of interest was positioned in the primary visual cortex. A time series of alternating diffusion- and non-diffusion-weighted (1)H spectra was acquired at 7 T employing stimulated echo acquisition mode sequence and a long diffusion time (Δ = 245 ms). Time-resolved series of metabolite apparent diffusion coefficient values were derived.
Results:
Significant increases in apparent diffusion coefficient of 3.3 ± 1.4% (p = 0.05) and 3.9 ± 0.9% (p = 0.002) for total n-acetyl aspartate and total creatine, respectively, and 8.1 ± 2.5% (p = 0.03) for total choline were observed in response to visual stimulation.
Conclusion:
The increase in apparent diffusion coefficient for these metabolites is a potential indication for microstructural changes in neurons during neural activation and/or for an increase in the energy-dependent cytoplasmic streaming associated with enhanced metabolism during visual stimulation.
