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Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: August 30, 2020
Mapping subarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid circulation in the human brain.
Fuyixue Wang1,2, Timothy G Reese1,2, Lawrence L Wald1,2
1Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|June 5, 2026
Summary
A new imaging technique, SOPHI, visualizes ultra-slow cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the human brain. It reveals organized, cardiac-driven CSF circulation patterns, crucial for brain waste clearance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Fluid Dynamics
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Circulation
Background:
- The subarachnoid space is vital for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation and waste clearance.
- Human CSF flow organization in the subarachnoid space is poorly understood due to limitations in measuring ultra-slow flow.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce slow-flow-sensitized phase-contrast imaging (SOPHI) for noninvasive, quantitative measurement of ultra-slow CSF flow.
- Map complex CSF circulation in the human subarachnoid space at high resolution.
Main Methods:
- Developed and applied SOPHI, a novel phase-contrast imaging technique.
- Enabled quantification of ultra-slow flow velocities (∼100 μm/s) and directionality.
- Achieved high spatiotemporal resolution for whole-brain mapping.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated brain-wide, spatiotemporally coherent CSF flow patterns with strong cardiac-driven oscillations.
- Observed flow dynamics coupled with vascular anatomy, with faster flow near major arteries.
- Identified localized pathways potentially involved in CSF efflux from ventricles and subarachnoid regions.
Conclusions:
- SOPHI reveals a highly organized, previously undercharacterized CSF flow system in the human brain.
- Provides a macroscopic view of human CSF circulation and brain fluid transport.
- Establishes a framework for investigating CSF dynamics and related neurological conditions.
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