Iterative analysis of cerebrovascular reactivity dynamic response by temporal decomposition
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Updated: Feb 22, 2026
MRI Mapping of Cerebrovascular Reactivity via Gas Inhalation Challenges
Published on: December 17, 2014
Christiaan Hendrik Bas van Niftrik1,2, Marco Piccirelli2,3, Oliver Bozinov1,2
1Department of Neurosurgery University Hospital Zurich University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland.
Objective:
To improve quantitative cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) measurements and CO 2 arrival times, we present an iterative analysis capable of decomposing different temporal components of the dynamic carbon dioxide- Blood Oxygen-Level Dependent (CO 2-BOLD) relationship.
Experimental Design:
Decomposition of the dynamic parameters included a redefinition of the voxel-wise CO 2 arrival time, and a separation from the vascular response to a stepwise increase in CO 2 (Delay to signal Plateau - DTP) and a decrease in CO 2 (Delay to signal Baseline -DTB). Twenty-five (normal) datasets, obtained from BOLD MRI combined with a standardized pseudo-square wave CO 2 change, were co-registered to generate reference atlases for the aforementioned dynamic processes to score the voxel-by-voxel deviation probability from normal range. This analysis is further illustrated in two subjects with unilateral carotid artery occlusion using these reference atlases.
Principal Observations:
We have found that our redefined CO 2 arrival time resulted in the best data fit. Additionally, excluding both dynamic BOLD phases (DTP and DTB) resulted in a static CVR, that is maximal response, defined as CVR calculated only over a normocapnic and hypercapnic calibrated plateau.
Conclusion:
Decomposition and novel iterative modeling of different temporal components of the dynamic CO 2-BOLD relationship improves quantitative CVR measurements.
