Open AccessRelationship altered between functional T1ρ and BOLD signals in bipolar disorder
Author(s) -
Shaffer Joseph J.,
Johnson Casey P.,
Long Jeffrey D.,
Fiedorowicz Jess G.,
Christensen Gary E.,
Wemmie John A.,
Magnotta Vincent A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.802
Subject(s) - bipolar disorder , functional magnetic resonance imaging , neuroscience , neuroimaging , functional imaging , functional neuroimaging , psychology , thalamus , blood oxygen level dependent , bipolar i disorder , visual cortex , cognition , mania
Functional neuroimaging typically relies on the blood‐oxygen‐level–dependent ( BOLD ) contrast, which is sensitive to the influx of oxygenated blood following neuronal activity. A new method, functional T1 relaxation in the rotating frame ( fT 1ρ) is thought to reflect changes in local brain metabolism, likely pH , and may more directly measure neuronal activity. These two methods were applied to study activation of the visual cortex in participants with bipolar disorder as compared to controls. Methods Thirty‐nine participants with bipolar disorder and 32 healthy controls underwent functional neuroimaging during a flashing checkerboard paradigm. Functional images were acquired in alternating blocks of BOLD and fT 1ρ. Linear mixed‐effect models were used to examine the relationship between these two functional imaging modalities and to test whether that relationship was altered in bipolar disorder. Results BOLD and fT 1ρ signal were strongly related in visual and cerebellar areas during the task in controls. The relationship between these two measures was reduced in bipolar disorder within the visual areas, cerebellum, striatum, and thalamus. Conclusions These results support a distinct mechanisms underlying BOLD and fT 1ρ signals. The weakened relationship between these imaging modalities may provide a novel tool for measuring pathology in bipolar disorder and other psychiatric illnesses.