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Báez-Yáñez MG, Siero JCW, Curcic V, van Osch MJP, Petridou N. On the influence of the vascular architecture on Gradient Echo and Spin Echo BOLD fMRI signals across cortical depth: a simulation approach based on realistic 3D vascular networks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.30.596593. [PMID: 38853905 PMCID: PMC11160811 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.30.596593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
GE-BOLD contrast stands out as the predominant technique in functional MRI experiments for its high sensitivity and straightforward implementation. GE-BOLD exhibits rather similar sensitivity to vessels independent of their size at submillimeter resolution studies like those examining cortical columns and laminae. However, the presence of nonspecific macrovascular contributions poses a challenge to accurately isolate neuronal activity. SE-BOLD increases specificity towards small vessels, thereby enhancing its specificity to neuronal activity, due to the effective suppression of extravascular contributions caused by macrovessels with its refocusing pulse. However, even SE-BOLD measurements may not completely remove these macrovascular contributions. By simulating hemodynamic signals across cortical depth, we gain insights into vascular contributions to the laminar BOLD signal. In this study, we employed four realistic 3D vascular models to simulate oxygen saturation states in various vascular compartments, aiming to characterize both intravascular and extravascular contributions to GE and SE signals, and corresponding BOLD signal changes, across cortical depth at 7T. Simulations suggest that SE-BOLD cannot completely reduce the macrovascular contribution near the pial surface. Simulations also show that both the specificity and signal amplitude of BOLD signals at 7T depend on the spatial arrangement of large vessels throughout cortical depth and on the pial surface.
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Báez-Yáñez MG, Schellekens W, Bhogal AA, Roefs ECA, van Osch MJP, Siero JCW, Petridou N. A fully synthetic three-dimensional human cerebrovascular model based on histological characteristics to investigate the hemodynamic fingerprint of the layer BOLD fMRI signal formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.24.595716. [PMID: 38826311 PMCID: PMC11142244 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.595716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at ultra-high field (≥7 tesla), novel hardware, and data analysis methods have enabled detailed research on neurovascular function, such as cortical layer-specific activity, in both human and nonhuman species. A widely used fMRI technique relies on the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal. BOLD fMRI offers insights into brain function by measuring local changes in cerebral blood volume, cerebral blood flow, and oxygen metabolism induced by increased neuronal activity. Despite its potential, interpreting BOLD fMRI data is challenging as it is only an indirect measurement of neuronal activity. Computational modeling can help interpret BOLD data by simulating the BOLD signal formation. Current developments have focused on realistic 3D vascular models based on rodent data to understand the spatial and temporal BOLD characteristics. While such rodent-based vascular models highlight the impact of the angioarchitecture on the BOLD signal amplitude, anatomical differences between the rodent and human vasculature necessitate the development of human-specific models. Therefore, a computational framework integrating human cortical vasculature, hemodynamic changes, and biophysical properties is essential. Here, we present a novel computational approach: a three-dimensional VAscular MOdel based on Statistics (3D VAMOS), enabling the investigation of the hemodynamic fingerprint of the BOLD signal within a model encompassing a fully synthetic human 3D cortical vasculature and hemodynamics. Our algorithm generates microvascular and macrovascular architectures based on morphological and topological features from the literature on human cortical vasculature. By simulating specific oxygen saturation states and biophysical interactions, our framework characterizes the intravascular and extravascular signal contributions across cortical depth and voxel-wise levels for gradient-echo and spin-echo readouts. Thereby, the 3D VAMOS computational framework demonstrates that using human characteristics significantly affects the BOLD fingerprint, making it an essential step in understanding the fundamental underpinnings of layer-specific fMRI experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Gilberto Báez-Yáñez
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter Schellekens
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Alex A Bhogal
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Emiel C A Roefs
- C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Matthias J P van Osch
- C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen C W Siero
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natalia Petridou
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Ribeiro FL, York A, Zavitz E, Bollmann S, Rosa MGP, Puckett A. Variability of visual field maps in human early extrastriate cortex challenges the canonical model of organization of V2 and V3. eLife 2023; 12:e86439. [PMID: 37580963 PMCID: PMC10427147 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual field maps in human early extrastriate areas (V2 and V3) are traditionally thought to form mirror-image representations which surround the primary visual cortex (V1). According to this scheme, V2 and V3 form nearly symmetrical halves with respect to the calcarine sulcus, with the dorsal halves representing lower contralateral quadrants, and the ventral halves representing upper contralateral quadrants. This arrangement is considered to be consistent across individuals, and thus predictable with reasonable accuracy using templates. However, data that deviate from this expected pattern have been observed, but mainly treated as artifactual. Here, we systematically investigate individual variability in the visual field maps of human early visual cortex using the 7T Human Connectome Project (HCP) retinotopy dataset. Our results demonstrate substantial and principled inter-individual variability. Visual field representation in the dorsal portions of V2 and V3 was more variable than in their ventral counterparts, including substantial departures from the expected mirror-symmetrical patterns. In addition, left hemisphere retinotopic maps were more variable than those in the right hemisphere. Surprisingly, only one-third of individuals had maps that conformed to the expected pattern in the left hemisphere. Visual field sign analysis further revealed that in many individuals the area conventionally identified as dorsal V3 shows a discontinuity in the mirror-image representation of the retina, associated with a Y-shaped lower vertical representation. Our findings challenge the current view that inter-individual variability in early extrastriate cortex is negligible, and that the dorsal portions of V2 and V3 are roughly mirror images of their ventral counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Lenita Ribeiro
- School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Ashley York
- School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Elizabeth Zavitz
- Department of Physiology, Monash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
- Neuroscience Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute; Monash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
- Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Monash UniversityClaytonAustralia
| | - Steffen Bollmann
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Marcello GP Rosa
- Department of Physiology, Monash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
- Neuroscience Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute; Monash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Alexander Puckett
- School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
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Knudsen L, Bailey CJ, Blicher JU, Yang Y, Zhang P, Lund TE. Improved sensitivity and microvascular weighting of 3T laminar fMRI with GE-BOLD using NORDIC and phase regression. Neuroimage 2023; 271:120011. [PMID: 36914107 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Functional MRI with spatial resolution in the submillimeter domain enables measurements of activation across cortical layers in humans. This is valuable as different types of cortical computations, e.g., feedforward versus feedback related activity, take place in different cortical layers. Laminar fMRI studies have almost exclusively employed 7T scanners to overcome the reduced signal stability associated with small voxels. However, such systems are relatively rare and only a subset of those are clinically approved. In the present study, we examined if the feasibility of laminar fMRI at 3T could be improved by use of NORDIC denoising and phase regression. METHODS 5 healthy subjects were scanned on a Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma 3T scanner. To assess across-session reliability, each subject was scanned in 3-8 sessions on 3-4 consecutive days. A 3D gradient echo EPI (GE-EPI) sequence was used for BOLD acquisitions (voxel size 0.82 mm isotopic, TR = 2.2 s) using a block design finger tapping paradigm. NORDIC denoising was applied to the magnitude and phase time series to overcome limitations in temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) and the denoised phase time series were subsequently used to correct for large vein contamination through phase regression. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION NORDIC denoising resulted in tSNR values comparable to or higher than commonly observed at 7T. Layer-dependent activation profiles could thus be extracted robustly, within and across sessions, from regions of interest located in the hand knob of the primary motor cortex (M1). Phase regression led to substantially reduced superficial bias in obtained layer profiles, although residual macrovascular contribution remained. We believe the present results support an improved feasibility of laminar fMRI at 3T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse Knudsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark; Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101400, PR China.
| | - Christopher J Bailey
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark; Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101400, PR China
| | - Jakob U Blicher
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Yan Yang
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101400, PR China; Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101400, PR China; Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Torben E Lund
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
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Faes LK, De Martino F, Huber L(R. Cerebral blood volume sensitive layer-fMRI in the human auditory cortex at 7T: Challenges and capabilities. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280855. [PMID: 36758009 PMCID: PMC9910709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of ultra high field fMRI signal readout strategies and contrasts has led to the possibility of imaging the human brain in vivo and non-invasively at increasingly higher spatial resolutions of cortical layers and columns. One emergent layer-fMRI acquisition method with increasing popularity is the cerebral blood volume sensitive sequence named vascular space occupancy (VASO). This approach has been shown to be mostly sensitive to locally-specific changes of laminar microvasculature, without unwanted biases of trans-laminar draining veins. Until now, however, VASO has not been applied in the technically challenging cortical area of the auditory cortex. Here, we describe the main challenges we encountered when developing a VASO protocol for auditory neuroscientific applications and the solutions we have adopted. With the resulting protocol, we present preliminary results of laminar responses to sounds and as a proof of concept for future investigations, we map the topographic representation of frequency preference (tonotopy) in the auditory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lonike K. Faes
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Federico De Martino
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Laurentius (Renzo) Huber
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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A comprehensive investigation of physiologic noise modeling in resting state fMRI; time shifted cardiac noise in EPI and its removal without external physiologic signal measures. Neuroimage 2022; 254:119136. [PMID: 35346840 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemodynamic cardiac and respiratory-cycle fluctuations are a source of unwanted non-neuronal signal components, often called physiologic noise, in resting state (rs-) fMRI studies. Here, we use image-based retrospective correction of physiological motion (RETROICOR) with externally measured physiologic signals to investigate cardiac and respiratory hemodynamic phase functions reflected in rs-fMRI data. We find that the cardiac phase function is time shifted locally, while the respiratory phase function is described as single, fixed phase form across the brain. In light of these findings, we propose an update to Physiologic EStimation by Temporal ICA (PESTICA), our publically available software package that estimates physiologic signals when external physiologic measures are not available. This update incorporates: 1) auto-selection of slicewise physiologic regressors and generation of physiologic fixed phase regressors with total slices/TR sampling rate, 2) Fourier series expansion of the cardiac fixed phase regressor to account for time delayed cardiac noise 3) removal of cardiac and respiratory noise in imaging data. We compare the efficacy of the updated method to RETROICOR.
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Lacy TC, Robinson PA, Aquino KM, Pang JC. Cortical depth-dependent modeling of visual hemodynamic responses. J Theor Biol 2021; 535:110978. [PMID: 34952032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A physiologically based three-dimensional (3D) hemodynamic model is developed to predict the experimentally observed blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses versus the cortical depth induced by visual stimuli. Prior 2D approximations are relaxed in order to analyze 3D blood flow dynamics as a function of cortical depth. Comparison of the predictions with experimental data for evoked stimuli demonstrates that the full 3D model performs at least as well as previous approaches while remaining parsimonious. In particular, the 3D model requires significantly fewer assumptions and model parameters than previous models such that there is no longer need to define depth-specific parameter values for spatial spreading, peak amplitude, and hemodynamic velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Lacy
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Center for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter A Robinson
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Center for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kevin M Aquino
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - James C Pang
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia.
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Dowdle LT, Ghose G, Chen CCC, Ugurbil K, Yacoub E, Vizioli L. Statistical power or more precise insights into neuro-temporal dynamics? Assessing the benefits of rapid temporal sampling in fMRI. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 207:102171. [PMID: 34492308 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a non-invasive and widely used human neuroimaging method, is most known for its spatial precision. However, there is a growing interest in its temporal sensitivity. This is despite the temporal blurring of neuronal events by the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal, the peak of which lags neuronal firing by 4-6 seconds. Given this, the goal of this review is to answer a seemingly simple question - "What are the benefits of increased temporal sampling for fMRI?". To answer this, we have combined fMRI data collected at multiple temporal scales, from 323 to 1000 milliseconds, with a review of both historical and contemporary temporal literature. After a brief discussion of technological developments that have rekindled interest in temporal research, we next consider the potential statistical and methodological benefits. Most importantly, we explore how fast fMRI can uncover previously unobserved neuro-temporal dynamics - effects that are entirely missed when sampling at conventional 1 to 2 second rates. With the intrinsic link between space and time in fMRI, this temporal renaissance also delivers improvements in spatial precision. Far from producing only statistical gains, the array of benefits suggest that the continued temporal work is worth the effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan T Dowdle
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, 2021 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, 500 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States.
| | - Geoffrey Ghose
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, 2021 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
| | - Clark C C Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, 500 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
| | - Kamil Ugurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, 2021 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
| | - Essa Yacoub
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, 2021 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
| | - Luca Vizioli
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, 2021 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, 500 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States.
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Huber LR, Poser BA, Bandettini PA, Arora K, Wagstyl K, Cho S, Goense J, Nothnagel N, Morgan AT, van den Hurk J, Müller AK, Reynolds RC, Glen DR, Goebel R, Gulban OF. LayNii: A software suite for layer-fMRI. Neuroimage 2021; 237:118091. [PMID: 33991698 PMCID: PMC7615890 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
High-resolution fMRI in the sub-millimeter regime allows researchers to resolve brain activity across cortical layers and columns non-invasively. While these high-resolution data make it possible to address novel questions of directional information flow within and across brain circuits, the corresponding data analyses are challenged by MRI artifacts, including image blurring, image distortions, low SNR, and restricted coverage. These challenges often result in insufficient spatial accuracy of conventional analysis pipelines. Here we introduce a new software suite that is specifically designed for layer-specific functional MRI: LayNii. This toolbox is a collection of command-line executable programs written in C/C++ and is distributed opensource and as pre-compiled binaries for Linux, Windows, and macOS. LayNii is designed for layer-fMRI data that suffer from SNR and coverage constraints and thus cannot be straightforwardly analyzed in alternative software packages. Some of the most popular programs of LayNii contain 'layerification' and columnarization in the native voxel space of functional data as well as many other layer-fMRI specific analysis tasks: layer-specific smoothing, model-based vein mitigation of GE-BOLD data, quality assessment of artifact dominated sub-millimeter fMRI, as well as analyses of VASO data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benedikt A Poser
- MBIC, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | | | - Kabir Arora
- MBIC, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Konrad Wagstyl
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Shinho Cho
- CMRR, University of Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rainer Goebel
- MBIC, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; Brain Innovation, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Omer Faruk Gulban
- MBIC, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; Brain Innovation, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Yang J, Huber L, Yu Y, Bandettini PA. Linking cortical circuit models to human cognition with laminar fMRI. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 128:467-478. [PMID: 34245758 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory animal research has provided significant knowledge into the function of cortical circuits at the laminar level, which has yet to be fully leveraged towards insights about human brain function on a similar spatiotemporal scale. The use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in conjunction with neural models provides new opportunities to gain important insights from current knowledge. During the last five years, human studies have demonstrated the value of high-resolution fMRI to study laminar-specific activity in the human brain. This is mostly performed at ultra-high-field strengths (≥ 7 T) and is known as laminar fMRI. Advancements in laminar fMRI are beginning to open new possibilities for studying questions in basic cognitive neuroscience. In this paper, we first review recent methodological advances in laminar fMRI and describe recent human laminar fMRI studies. Then, we discuss how the use of laminar fMRI can help bridge the gap between cortical circuit models and human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Yang
- Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan; Section on Functional Imaging Methods, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Laurentius Huber
- MR-Methods Group, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Yinghua Yu
- Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan; Section on Functional Imaging Methods, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Peter A Bandettini
- Section on Functional Imaging Methods, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Functional MRI Core Facility, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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11
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Markuerkiaga I, Marques JP, Gallagher TE, Norris DG. Estimation of laminar BOLD activation profiles using deconvolution with a physiological point spread function. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 353:109095. [PMID: 33549635 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The specificity of gradient echo (GE)-BOLD laminar fMRI activation profiles is degraded by intracortical veins that drain blood from lower to upper cortical layers, propagating activation signal in the same direction. This work describes an approach to obtain layer specific profiles by deconvolving the measured profiles with a physiological Point Spread Function (PSF). NEW METHOD It is shown that the PSF can be characterised by a TE-dependent peak to tail (p2t) value that is independent of cortical depth and can be estimated by simulation. An experimental estimation of individual p2t values and the sensitivity of the deconvolved profiles to variations in p2t is obtained using laminar data measured with a multi-echo 3D-FLASH sequence. These profiles are echo time dependent, but the underlying neuronal response is the same, allowing a data-based estimation of the PSF. RESULTS The deconvolved profiles are highly similar to the gold-standard obtained from extremely high resolution 3D-EPI data, for a range of p2t values of 5-9, which covers both the empirically determined value (6.8) and the value obtained by simulation (6.3). -Comparison with Existing Method(s) Corrected profiles show a flatter shape across the cortex and a high level of similarity with the gold-standard, defined as a subset of profiles that are unaffected by intracortical veins. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that deconvolution is a robust approach for removing the effect of signal propagation through intracortical veins. This makes it possible to obtain profiles with high laminar specificity while benefitting from the higher efficiency of GE-BOLD sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irati Markuerkiaga
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - José P Marques
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Tara E Gallagher
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - David G Norris
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 45141, Essen, Germany.
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12
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Markuerkiaga I, Marques JP, Bains LJ, Norris DG. An in-vivo study of BOLD laminar responses as a function of echo time and static magnetic field strength. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1862. [PMID: 33479362 PMCID: PMC7820587 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81249-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Layer specific functional MRI requires high spatial resolution data. To compensate the associated poor signal to noise ratio it is common to integrate the signal from voxels at a given cortical depth. If the region is sufficiently large then physiological noise will be the dominant noise source. In this work, activation profiles in response to the same visual stimulus are compared at 1.5 T, 3 T and 7 T using a multi-echo, gradient echo (GE) FLASH sequence, with a 0.75 mm isotropic voxel size and the cortical integration approach. The results show that after integrating over a cortical volume of 40, 60 and 100 mm3 (at 7 T, 3 T, and 1.5 T, respectively), the signal is in the physiological noise dominated regime. The activation profiles obtained are similar for equivalent echo times. BOLD-like noise is found to be the dominant source of physiological noise. Consequently, the functional contrast to noise ratio is not strongly echo-time or field-strength dependent. We conclude that laminar GE-BOLD fMRI at lower field strengths is feasible but that larger patches of cortex will need to be examined, and that the acquisition efficiency is reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irati Markuerkiaga
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - José P Marques
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lauren J Bains
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - David G Norris
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 45141, Essen, Germany.
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van Dijk JA, Fracasso A, Petridou N, Dumoulin SO. Validating Linear Systems Analysis for Laminar fMRI: Temporal Additivity for Stimulus Duration Manipulations. Brain Topogr 2021; 34:88-101. [PMID: 33210193 PMCID: PMC7803719 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-020-00808-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Advancements in ultra-high field (7 T and higher) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners have made it possible to investigate both the structure and function of the human brain at a sub-millimeter scale. As neuronal feedforward and feedback information arrives in different layers, sub-millimeter functional MRI has the potential to uncover information processing between cortical micro-circuits across cortical depth, i.e. laminar fMRI. For nearly all conventional fMRI analyses, the main assumption is that the relationship between local neuronal activity and the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal adheres to the principles of linear systems theory. For laminar fMRI, however, directional blood pooling across cortical depth stemming from the anatomy of the cortical vasculature, potentially violates these linear system assumptions, thereby complicating analysis and interpretation. Here we assess whether the temporal additivity requirement of linear systems theory holds for laminar fMRI. We measured responses elicited by viewing stimuli presented for different durations and evaluated how well the responses to shorter durations predicted those elicited by longer durations. We find that BOLD response predictions are consistently good predictors for observed responses, across all cortical depths, and in all measured visual field maps (V1, V2, and V3). Our results suggest that the temporal additivity assumption for linear systems theory holds for laminar fMRI. We thus show that the temporal additivity assumption holds across cortical depth for sub-millimeter gradient-echo BOLD fMRI in early visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle A van Dijk
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Alessio Fracasso
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK
- Radiology Department, Imaging Division, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Natalia Petridou
- Radiology Department, Imaging Division, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Serge O Dumoulin
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Experimental and Applied Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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14
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de Hollander G, van der Zwaag W, Qian C, Zhang P, Knapen T. Ultra-high field fMRI reveals origins of feedforward and feedback activity within laminae of human ocular dominance columns. Neuroimage 2020; 228:117683. [PMID: 33385565 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultra-high field MRI can functionally image the cerebral cortex of human subjects at the submillimeter scale of cortical columns and laminae. Here, we investigate both in concert, by imaging ocular dominance columns (ODCs) in primary visual cortex (V1) across different cortical depths. We ensured that putative ODC patterns in V1 (a) are stable across runs, sessions, and scanners located in different continents, (b) have a width (~1.3 mm) expected from post-mortem and animal work and (c) are absent at the retinotopic location of the blind spot. We then dissociated the effects of bottom-up thalamo-cortical input and attentional feedback processes on activity in V1 across cortical depth. Importantly, the separation of bottom-up information flows into ODCs allowed us to validly compare attentional conditions while keeping the stimulus identical throughout the experiment. We find that, when correcting for draining vein effects and using both model-based and model-free approaches, the effect of monocular stimulation is largest at deep and middle cortical depths. Conversely, spatial attention influences BOLD activity exclusively near the pial surface. Our findings show that simultaneous interrogation of columnar and laminar dimensions of the cortical fold can dissociate thalamocortical inputs from top-down processing, and allow the investigation of their interactions without any stimulus manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles de Hollander
- Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics (ZNE), Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Royal Academy of Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wietske van der Zwaag
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Royal Academy of Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Chencan Qian
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tomas Knapen
- Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Royal Academy of Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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15
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Bollmann S, Barth M. New acquisition techniques and their prospects for the achievable resolution of fMRI. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 207:101936. [PMID: 33130229 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
This work reviews recent advances in technologies for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the human brain and highlights the push for higher functional specificity based on increased spatial resolution and specific MR contrasts to reveal previously undetectable functional properties of small-scale cortical structures. We discuss how the combination of MR hardware, advanced acquisition techniques and various MR contrast mechanisms have enabled recent progress in functional neuroimaging. However, these advanced fMRI practices have only been applied to a handful of neuroscience questions to date, with the majority of the neuroscience community still using conventional imaging techniques. We thus discuss upcoming challenges and possibilities for fMRI technology development in human neuroscience. We hope that readers interested in functional brain imaging acquire an understanding of current and novel developments and potential future applications, even if they don't have a background in MR physics or engineering. We summarize the capabilities of standard fMRI acquisition schemes with pointers to relevant literature and comprehensive reviews and introduce more recent developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Bollmann
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Markus Barth
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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16
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Kuehn E, Pleger B. Encoding schemes in somatosensation: From micro- to meta-topography. Neuroimage 2020; 223:117255. [PMID: 32800990 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Encoding schemes are systematic large-scale arrangements that convert incoming sensory information into a format required for further information processing. The increased spatial resolution of brain images obtained with ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging at 7 T (7T-MRI) and above increases the granularity and precision of processing units that mediate the link between neuronal encoding and functional readouts. Here, these new developments are reviewed with a focus on human tactile encoding schemes derived from small-scale processing units (in the order of 0.5-5 mm) that are relevant for theoretical and practical concepts of somatosensory encoding and cortical plasticity. Precisely, we review recent approaches to characterize meso-scale maps, layer units, and cortical fields in the sensorimotor cortex of the living human brain and discuss their impact on theories of perception, motor control, topographic encoding, and cortical plasticity. Finally, we discuss concepts on the integration of small-scale processing units into functional networks that span multiple topographic maps and multiple cortical areas. Novel research areas are highlighted that may help to bridge the gap between cortical microstructure and meta-topographic models on brain anatomy and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Kuehn
- Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS) Magdeburg, Magdeburg 39120, Germany.
| | - Burkhard Pleger
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany
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17
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Wei H, Jafarian A, Zeidman P, Litvak V, Razi A, Hu D, Friston KJ. Bayesian fusion and multimodal DCM for EEG and fMRI. Neuroimage 2020; 211:116595. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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18
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van Dijk JA, Fracasso A, Petridou N, Dumoulin SO. Linear systems analysis for laminar fMRI: Evaluating BOLD amplitude scaling for luminance contrast manipulations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5462. [PMID: 32214136 PMCID: PMC7096513 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62165-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A fundamental assumption of nearly all functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses is that the relationship between local neuronal activity and the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal can be described as following linear systems theory. With the advent of ultra-high field (7T and higher) MRI scanners, it has become possible to perform sub-millimeter resolution fMRI in humans. A novel and promising application of sub-millimeter fMRI is measuring responses across cortical depth, i.e. laminar imaging. However, the cortical vasculature and associated directional blood pooling towards the pial surface strongly influence the cortical depth-dependent BOLD signal, particularly for gradient-echo BOLD. This directional pooling may potentially affect BOLD linearity across cortical depth. Here we assess whether the amplitude scaling assumption for linear systems theory holds across cortical depth. For this, we use stimuli with different luminance contrasts to elicit different BOLD response amplitudes. We find that BOLD amplitude across cortical depth scales with luminance contrast, and that this scaling is identical across cortical depth. Although nonlinearities may be present for different stimulus configurations and acquisition protocols, our results suggest that the amplitude scaling assumption for linear systems theory across cortical depth holds for luminance contrast manipulations in sub-millimeter laminar BOLD fMRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle A van Dijk
- Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NL, Netherlands.
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, NL, Netherlands.
| | - Alessio Fracasso
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, NL, Netherlands
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, UK
- Radiology Department, Imaging Division, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NL, Netherlands
| | - Natalia Petridou
- Radiology Department, Imaging Division, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NL, Netherlands
| | - Serge O Dumoulin
- Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NL, Netherlands
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, NL, Netherlands
- Experimental and Applied Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, NL, Netherlands
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19
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Bayesian population receptive field modeling in human somatosensory cortex. Neuroimage 2020; 208:116465. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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20
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Pang JC, Robinson PA. Power spectrum of resting-state blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal. Phys Rev E 2020; 100:022418. [PMID: 31574765 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.100.022418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Hemodynamic modeling is used to explore the origin, predict, and analyze the power spectrum of the resting-state blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which has been reported to have a power-law form, i.e., P(f)∝f^{-s}, where P(f) is the power, f is the frequency, and s>0 is the power-law exponent. However, current fMRI experimental paradigms have limited acquisition durations, affecting the spectral resolution of fMRI data at the low-frequency regime. Here, the claimed power-law spectrum is investigated by using a recent hemodynamic model to analytically derive the BOLD power spectrum, with parameters that are related to neurophysiology. The theoretical results show that, for all realistic parameter combinations, the BOLD power spectrum is flat at f≲0.01Hz, has a weak resonance originating from intrinsic oscillations of vasodilatory response, and becomes a power law for high frequencies, all of which is in agreement with an empirical data set that describes the spectrum of one subject and brain region. However, the results are contrary to studies reporting a pure power-law spectrum at f≲0.2Hz. The discrepancy is attributed largely to data averaging employed by current approaches that averages together important properties of the BOLD power spectrum, such as its resonance, that biases the spectrum to only show a power law. Data averaging also reduces the high-frequency power-law exponent relative to individual cases. Overall, this work demonstrates how the model can reproduce BOLD dynamics and further analyze its low-frequency behavior. Moreover, it also uses the model to explain the impact of procedures, such as data averaging, on the reported features of the BOLD power spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Pang
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Center for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - P A Robinson
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Center for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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21
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Biophysically based method to deconvolve spatiotemporal neurovascular signals from fMRI data. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 308:6-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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22
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Corbitt PT, Ulloa A, Horwitz B. Simulating laminar neuroimaging data for a visual delayed match-to-sample task. Neuroimage 2018; 173:199-222. [PMID: 29476912 PMCID: PMC5911248 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive electrophysiological and neuroanatomical studies in nonhuman mammalian experimental preparations have helped elucidate the lamina (layer) dependence of neural computations and interregional connections. Noninvasive functional neuroimaging can, in principle, resolve cortical laminae (layers), and thus provide insight into human neural computations and interregional connections. However human neuroimaging data are noisy and difficult to interpret; biologically realistic simulations can aid experimental interpretation by relating the neuroimaging data to simulated neural activity. We illustrate the potential of laminar neuroimaging by upgrading an existing large-scale, multiregion neural model that simulates a visual delayed match-to-sample (DMS) task. The new laminar-based neural unit incorporates spiny stellate, pyramidal, and inhibitory neural populations which are divided among supragranular, granular, and infragranular laminae (layers). We simulated neural activity which is translated into local field potential-like data used to simulate conventional and laminar fMRI activity. We implemented the laminar connectivity schemes proposed by Felleman and Van Essen (Cerebral Cortex, 1991) for interregional connections. The hemodynamic model that we employ is a modified version of one due to Heinzle et al. (Neuroimage, 2016) that incorporates the effects of draining veins. We show that the laminar version of the model replicates the findings of the existing model. The laminar model shows the finer structure in fMRI activity and functional connectivity. Laminar differences in the magnitude of neural activities are a prominent finding; these are also visible in the simulated fMRI. We illustrate differences between task and control conditions in the fMRI signal, and demonstrate differences in interregional laminar functional connectivity that reflect the underlying connectivity scheme. These results indicate that multi-layer computational models can aid in interpreting layer-specific fMRI, and suggest that increased use of laminar fMRI could provide unique and fundamental insights to human neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul T Corbitt
- Brain Imaging & Modeling Section, National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Antonio Ulloa
- Brain Imaging & Modeling Section, National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Neural Bytes, LLC, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Barry Horwitz
- Brain Imaging & Modeling Section, National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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23
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Kashyap S, Ivanov D, Havlicek M, Poser BA, Uludağ K. Impact of acquisition and analysis strategies on cortical depth-dependent fMRI. Neuroimage 2018; 168:332-344. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
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24
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Polimeni JR, Renvall V, Zaretskaya N, Fischl B. Analysis strategies for high-resolution UHF-fMRI data. Neuroimage 2018; 168:296-320. [PMID: 28461062 PMCID: PMC5664177 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional MRI (fMRI) benefits from both increased sensitivity and specificity with increasing magnetic field strength, making it a key application for Ultra-High Field (UHF) MRI scanners. Most UHF-fMRI studies utilize the dramatic increases in sensitivity and specificity to acquire high-resolution data reaching sub-millimeter scales, which enable new classes of experiments to probe the functional organization of the human brain. This review article surveys advanced data analysis strategies developed for high-resolution fMRI at UHF. These include strategies designed to mitigate distortion and artifacts associated with higher fields in ways that attempt to preserve spatial resolution of the fMRI data, as well as recently introduced analysis techniques that are enabled by these extremely high-resolution data. Particular focus is placed on anatomically-informed analyses, including cortical surface-based analysis, which are powerful techniques that can guide each step of the analysis from preprocessing to statistical analysis to interpretation and visualization. New intracortical analysis techniques for laminar and columnar fMRI are also reviewed and discussed. Prospects for single-subject individualized analyses are also presented and discussed. Altogether, there are both specific challenges and opportunities presented by UHF-fMRI, and the use of proper analysis strategies can help these valuable data reach their full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Polimeni
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.
| | - Ville Renvall
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States; Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Natalia Zaretskaya
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bruce Fischl
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States; Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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25
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Ultra-high field MRI: Advancing systems neuroscience towards mesoscopic human brain function. Neuroimage 2018; 168:345-357. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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26
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Dynamics of large-scale fMRI networks: Deconstruct brain activity to build better models of brain function. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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27
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Viessmann O, Möller HE, Jezzard P. Cardiac cycle-induced EPI time series fluctuations in the brain: Their temporal shifts, inflow effects and T 2∗ fluctuations. Neuroimage 2017; 162:93-105. [PMID: 28864026 PMCID: PMC5711428 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.08.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cardiac-induced arterial pressure wave causes changes in cerebral blood flow velocities and volumes that affect the signals in echo-planar imaging (EPI). Using single-echo EPI time series data, acquired fast enough to unalias the cardiac frequency, we found that the cardiac cycle-induced signal fluctuations are delayed differentially in different brain regions. When referenced to the time series in larger arterial structures, the cortical voxels are only minimally shifted but significant shifts are observed in subcortical areas. Using double-echo EPI data we mapped the voxels’ “signal at zero echo time”, S0, and apparent T2∗ over the cardiac cycle. S0 pulsatility was maximised for voxels with a cardiac cycle-induced timing that was close to the arterial structures and is likely explained by enhanced inflow effects in the cortical areas compared to subcortical areas. Interestingly a consistent T2∗ waveform over the cardiac cycle was observed in all voxels with average amplitude ranges between 0.3-0.55% in grey matter and 0.15–0.22% in white matter. The timing of the T2∗ waveforms suggests a partial volume fluctuation where arteriolar blood volume changes are counterbalanced by changes in CSF volumes. The timing of cardiac cycle-induced fluctuations in EPI time series was measured with fast EPI. Fluctuations are delayed differentially in different brain regions. Cortical voxels are closely matching the timing of arterial structures whereas subcortical voxels are shifted. We used double-echo EPI to map S0 and T2∗ in each voxel over the cardiac cycle. S0 pulsatility varies across voxels but a consistent T2∗ pulsatility was found in all voxels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Viessmann
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
| | - Harald E Möller
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Peter Jezzard
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
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28
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Lee IS, Preissl H, Enck P. How to Perform and Interpret Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017; 23:197-207. [PMID: 28256119 PMCID: PMC5383114 DOI: 10.5056/jnm16196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional neuroimaging studies have revealed the importance of the role of cognitive and psychological factors and the dysregulation of the brain-gut axis in functional gastrointestinal disorder patients. Although only a small number of neuroimaging studies have been conducted in functional gastrointestinal disorder patients, and despite the fact that the neuroimaging technique requires a high level of knowledge, the technique still has a great deal of potential. The application of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique in functional gastrointestinal disorders should provide novel methods of diagnosing and treating patients. In this review, basic knowledge and technical/practical issues of fMRI will be introduced to clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Seon Lee
- Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy Department, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, International Max Planck Research School, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hubert Preissl
- Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Tübingen, Germany.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Paul Enck
- Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy Department, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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29
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Abstract
This paper revisits the dynamic causal modelling of fMRI timeseries by replacing the usual (Taylor) approximation to neuronal dynamics with a neural mass model of the canonical microcircuit. This provides a generative or dynamic causal model of laminar specific responses that can generate haemodynamic and electrophysiological measurements. In principle, this allows the fusion of haemodynamic and (event related or induced) electrophysiological responses. Furthermore, it enables Bayesian model comparison of competing hypotheses about physiologically plausible synaptic effects; for example, does attentional modulation act on superficial or deep pyramidal cells – or both? In this technical note, we describe the resulting dynamic causal model and provide an illustrative application to the attention to visual motion dataset used in previous papers. Our focus here is on how to answer long-standing questions in fMRI; for example, do haemodynamic responses reflect extrinsic (afferent) input from distant cortical regions, or do they reflect intrinsic (recurrent) neuronal activity? To what extent do inhibitory interneurons contribute to neurovascular coupling? What is the relationship between haemodynamic responses and the frequency of induced neuronal activity? This paper does not pretend to answer these questions; rather it shows how they can be addressed using neural mass models of fMRI timeseries. This paper describes a DCM for fMRI based on neural mass models and canonical microcircuits. This enables the (Bayesian) fusion of EEG and fMRI data. That encompasses the formal modelling of neurovascular coupling. Offers a surprising insight into the relationship between haemodynamic and electrophysiological responses.
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30
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Effects of astrocytic dynamics on spatiotemporal hemodynamics: Modeling and enhanced data analysis. Neuroimage 2017; 147:994-1005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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