title: Is there a change in water proton density associated with functional magnetic resonance imaging?
abstract: In a recent series of studies (see, for example, Stroman et al. Magn Reson Imag 2001; 19:827-831), an increase of water proton density has been suggested to correlate with neuronal activity. Owing to the significant implications of such a mechanism for other functional experiments, the functional signal changes in humans at very short echo times were re-examined by spin-echo EPI at 3 T. The results do not confirm the previous hypothesis of a significant increase in extravascular proton density at TE = 0. Instead, an alternative explanation of the effect is offered: The use of a low threshold to identify activated voxels may generate an artificial offset in functional contrast due to the inclusion of false-positives in the analysis.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. thies@jochimsen.de
authors.forename: Thies H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Jochimsen
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Harald E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011522:Protons; D014867:Water