Laminar Multi-contrast FMRI at 7T Allows Differentiation of Neuronal Excitation and Inhibition Underlying Positive and Negative BOLD Responses

Overview

Journal medRxiv

Date 2024 Jul 23

PMID 39040201

Authors

Xingfeng Shao

Fanhua Guo

Junghwan Kim

David Ress

Chenyang Zhao

Qinyang Shou

Kay Jann

Danny Jj Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A major challenge for human neuroimaging using functional MRI is the differentiation of neuronal excitation and inhibition which may induce positive and negative BOLD responses. Here we present an innovative multi-contrast laminar functional MRI technique that offers comprehensive and quantitative imaging of neurovascular (CBF, CBV, BOLD) and metabolic (CMRO) responses across cortical layers at 7 Tesla. This technique was first validated through a finger-tapping experiment, revealing 'double-peak' laminar activation patterns within the primary motor cortex. By employing a ring-shaped visual stimulus that elicited positive and negative BOLD responses, we further observed distinct neurovascular and metabolic responses across cortical layers and eccentricities in the primary visual cortex. This suggests potential feedback inhibition of neuronal activities in both superficial and deep cortical layers underlying the negative BOLD signals in the fovea, and also illustrates the neuronal activities in visual areas adjacent to the activated eccentricities.

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