Laminar perfusion imaging with zoomed arterial spin labeling at 7 Tesla

• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118724
• Publication Date: 2021-11-12T16:20:55Z
• Authors: Xingfeng Shao; Fanhua Guo; Qinyang Shou; Kai Wang; Kay Jann; Lirong Yan; Arthur W. Toga; Peng Zhang; Danny J.J. Wang
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Brain Mapping; Arterial spin labeling; Perfusion Imaging; Visual spatial attention; Motor Cortex; Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Ultrahigh field; Perfusion; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Neural circuit; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Humans; Female; Spin Labels; Laminar fMRI; RC321-571; Visual Cortex

Laminar fMRI based on BOLD and CBV contrast at ultrahigh magnetic fields has been applied for studying the dynamics of mesoscopic brain networks. However, quantitative interpretations BOLD/CBV results are confounded by different baseline physiology across cortical layers. Here we introduce a novel 3D zoomed pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) technique 7T that offers capability measurements laminar cerebral blood flow (CBF) both rest during task activation with high spatial specificity sensitivity. We found transit time in superficial layers is ∼100 ms shorter than middle/deep revealing course labeled flowing from pial arteries to downstream microvasculature. Resting state CBF peaked middle which highly consistent microvascular density measured human cortex specimens. Finger tapping induced robust two-peak profile increases (somatosensory premotor input) deep (spinal output) M1, while finger brushing weaker increase input). This observation reported profiles M1. further demonstrated visuospatial attention predominant smaller top lower V1 (feedback input), stimulus driven activity (feedforward thalamic With activation, high-resolution ASL perfusion provides an important tool vivo assessment neurovascular function metabolic activities neural circuits