Open AccessImaging brain activity during natural vision using CASL perfusion fMRI
Author(s) -
Rao Hengyi,
Wang Jiongjiong,
Tang Kathy,
Pan Wei,
Detre John A.
Publication year - 2007
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.20288
Subject(s) - cerebral blood flow , functional magnetic resonance imaging , visual cortex , neuroscience , brain activity and meditation , brain mapping , psychology , perfusion scanning , perfusion , contrast (vision) , blood oxygen level dependent , human brain , temporal cortex , electroencephalography , medicine , cardiology , artificial intelligence , computer science
Functional MRI (fMRI) has begun to be used to explore human brain activity during ecological and natural conditions. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion fMRI provides an appealing approach for imaging sustained brain activity during natural conditions because of its long‐term temporal stability and ability to noninvasively quantify absolute cerebral blood flow (CBF). The present study used ASL perfusion fMRI to measure brain activation patterns associated with natural vision by concurrently recording CBF and blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) contrasts while subjects were freely viewing a cartoon movie. Reliable quantitative whole‐brain CBF values (∼60 mL/100g/min) as well as regional CBF values (45∼80 mL/100g/min) were measured during movie viewing and resting states. The perfusion contrast revealed CBF increases in multiple visual pathway areas and frontal areas, and CBF decreases in ventromedial frontal cortex and superior temporal cortex during movie viewing compared to resting states. Concurrent BOLD contrast revealed similar but weaker activation and deactivation patterns. Regression analyses of both CBF data and BOLD data showed significant associations between activation in the middle temporal (MT) region and subjects' perception of motion. Region of interest analysis based on a priori literature‐defined MT demonstrated significant monotonic stepwise associations between the intensity of motion perception and the CBF and BOLD signal changes. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using ASL perfusion fMRI for imaging both sustained and dynamic effects in neural activation during natural and ecologically valid situations, and support the notion of maintained functional segregation and specialization during natural vision. Hum Brain Mapp, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.