boldfmri-biac–duke.ppt

BOLD fMRI Why do we need to know physics/physiology of fMRI? To understand the implications of our results Interpreting activation extent, timing, etc. Determining the strength of our conclusions Exploring new and unexpected findings To understand limitations of our method Choosing appropriate experimental design Combining information across techniques to overcome limitations To take advantage of new developments Evaluating others’ approaches to problems Employing new pulse sequences or protocols Developments allowing functional MRI Echoplanar imaging methods Proposed by Mansfield in 1977 Ready availability of high-field scanners Technological developments Clinical applicability ? insurance reimbursement ? clinical prevalence Discovery of BOLD contrast mechanism Contrast Agents Defined: Substances that alter magnetic susceptibility of tissue or blood, leading to changes in MR signal Affects local magnetic homogeneity: decrease in T2* Two types Exogenous: Externally applied, non-biological compounds (e.g., Gd-DTPA) Endogenous: Internally generated biological compound (e.g., dHb) External Contrast Agents Most common are Gadolinium-based compounds introduced into bloodstream Very large magnetic moments Create field gradients within/around vessels What type of contrast would this generate? Large signal changes: 30-50% Delay in activation change until agent bolus passes through MR imaging volume Width of activation change depends on delivery of bolus and vascular filtering Degree of signal change depends on total blood volume of area Belliveau et al., 1990 BOLD Endogenous Contrast Blood Oxyenation Level Dependent Contrast Deoxyhemoglobin is paramagnetic, oxyhemoglobin is less so. Magnetic susceptibility of blood increases linearly with increasing oxygenation Oxygen is extracted during passage through capillary bed Arteries are fully oxygenated Venous (and capillary) blood has increased proportion of deoxyhemoglobin Difference between oxy and deoxy states is gr