Noninvasive study of neurovascular coupling during graded neuronal suppression.
In this study, the neurovascular coupling relationship was noninvasively studied in the human visual cortex. Graded neuronal/hemodynamic suppression conditions were generated using a paired-stimulus paradigm. Visual evoked potential was measured to quantify neuronal activity. Hemodynamic activities were measured and quantified by perfusion and blood oxygenation level-dependent changes. All quantification was normalized to the same activation condition induced by a single stimulus paradigm within each experimental session. This experiment design eliminated the confounding factors such as anesthesia and inconsistent neurovascular coupling patterns within and/or among tasks. The results reveal that (i) there is a tight neurovascular coupling at graded neuronal suppression conditions; (ii) the neurovascular coupling relationship contains a subtle, but significant, nonlinear component; and (iii) the linear model, nevertheless, is still a good approximation reflecting the neurovascular coupling relationship. This study extends the range of the neurovascular coupling relationship from graded neuronal excitation conditions to graded neuronal suppression conditions.
Zhang
Nanyin
N
Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. nanyin@cmrr.umn.edu
Liu
Zhongming
Z
He
Bin
B
Chen
Wei
W
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology