Abstract
In the past decade, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research has been focused on the acquisition of physiological and biochemical information noninvasively. Probably the most notable accomplishment in this general effort has been the introduction of the MR approaches to map brain function. This capability, often referred to as functional magnetic resonance imaging. orfMRI, is based on the sensitivity of MR signals to secondary metabolic and hemodynamic responses tliaî accompany increased neuronal activity. Despite this indirect link to neurotransmission, recent studies demonstrate that under appropriate conditions, these jMRl maps have accuracy at the scale of submillimeter neuronal organizations such as the orientation columns of the visual cortex, and are directly proportional in magnitude to electrical signals generated by the neurons. High magnetic fields have been critical in achieving such specificity in functional maps because they provide advantages through increased signal-to-noise ratio, diminishing blood-related contributions to mapping signals, and enhanced sensitivity to microvasculature. Equally important is MR spectroscopy studies, which, at high magnetic fields, provide for the first time the opportunity to measure local metabolic correlates of human brain function and neurotransmission rates. Together, these MR methods provide a complementary set of approaches for probing important aspects of the nervous system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1093-1106 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Proceedings of the IEEE |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Manuscript received December 1, 2000; revised May 23, 2001. This work was supported in part by the NIH under grants P41 RR08079, by a grant from the National Centers for Research Resources (NCRR) division of NIH, by the General Clinical Research Center Program of the NCRR under grants M01RR00400, RO1MH55346, NS38070, NS39043, by the W. M. Keck Foundation, by the Whitaker Foundation, and by the National Foundation for Brain Imaging (NFFBI).
Keywords
- BOLD
- Cerebral blood flow
- Cerebral oxygénation
- Cortex
- Functional imaging
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Orientation columns
- Oxygen consumption
- Spectroscopy
- fMRI