Open AccessDirectly mapping magnetic field effects of neuronal activity by magnetic resonance imaging
Author(s) -
Xiong Jinhu,
Fox Peter T.,
Gao JiaHong
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.10124
Subject(s) - functional magnetic resonance imaging , neuroscience , premovement neuronal activity , magnetic resonance imaging , functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain , brain mapping , brain activity and meditation , electrophysiology , functional imaging , signal (programming language) , temporal resolution , nuclear magnetic resonance , psychology , computer science , electroencephalography , physics , medicine , quantum mechanics , radiology , programming language
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain functional activity relies principally on changes in cerebral hemodynamics, which are more spatially and temporally distributed than the underlying neuronal activity changes. We present a novel MRI technique for mapping brain functional activity by directly detecting magnetic fields induced by neuronal firing. Using a well‐established visuomotor paradigm, the locations and latencies of activations in visual, motor, and premotor cortices were imaged at a temporal resolution of 100 msec and a spatial resolution of 3 mm, and were found to be in consistent with the electrophysiological and functional MRI (fMRI) literature. Signal strength was comparable to traditional event‐related fMRI methods: about 1% of the baseline signal. The magnetic‐source MRI technique greatly increases the temporal accuracy in detecting neuronal activity, providing a powerful new tool for mapping brain functional organization in human and animals. Hum. Brain Mapping 20:41–49, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.