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Combining Calcium Imaging and fMRI: Understanding the Neurophysiology of the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Response
Advances in MR technology are rapidly increasing our imaging capabilities, however we still don't know what the BOLD signal actually represents. In the lab we try to gain a better understanding of the properties of brain circuits to increase the capabilities of fMRI.
Advances in MR technology are rapidly increasing our imaging capabilities, and have established fMRI as a solid methodology to further our understanding of brain functioning. However, the usability of fMRI as a method for brain research is limited by the indirect nature of the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent signal. Traditionally, the BOLD signal is assumed to be linearly related to the underlying neuronal activity. Although research has shown that this is true in many cases, it has been argued that this relationship might be too simplistic due to the complexities imposed by the interaction between for example non-linear changes in the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the circuitry, biomechanical properties of the vasculature, and long range afferent connections with other areas. We are interested in understanding the specific physiology and conditions that (in)directly influence the
hemodynamic response as measured by fMRI. To this end we combine modern calcium imaging and circuit manipulation (Optogenetics, Pharmagenetics) methods with small rodent functional MRI.
Advances in MR technology are rapidly increasing our imaging capabilities, and have established fMRI as a solid methodology to further our understanding of brain functioning. However, the usability of fMRI as a method for brain research is limited by the indirect nature of the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent signal. Traditionally, the BOLD signal is assumed to be linearly related to the underlying neuronal activity. Although research has shown that this is true in many cases, it has been argued that this relationship might be too simplistic due to the complexities imposed by the interaction between for example non-linear changes in the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the circuitry, biomechanical properties of the vasculature, and long range afferent connections with other areas. We are interested in understanding the specific physiology and conditions that (in)directly influence the hemodynamic response as measured by fMRI. To this end we combine modern calcium imaging and circuit manipulation (Optogenetics, Pharmagenetics) methods with small rodent functional MRI.