title: Mapping cortical columnar structures using fMRI.
abstract: Mapping cortical columnar structures is important to understand cortical information processing. To map submillimeter columnar structures noninvasively, we have evaluated various functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques using a well-established feline orientation column model. The conventional positive blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal is widespread and diffuse due to large venous vessel contributions, resulting in its poor specificity to columns. However, the early-negative BOLD signal is induced by the early oxygen consumption increase without significant change in blood flow. This negative signal has been successfully applied for columnar mapping. Tissue-specific cerebral blood flow (CBF) response is also specific to individual cortical columns, suggesting that parenchyma-specific fMRI techniques are capable to map individual single-condition functional cortical columns in animals as well as humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 15261, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. kimsg@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Seong Gi
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Timothy Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Duong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002415:Cats; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D003847:Deoxyglucose