High-resolution fMRI mapping of ocular dominance layers in cat lateral geniculate nucleus.
In this work, we exploited the superior capability of high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for functional mapping of ocular dominance layer (ODL) in the cat lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). The stimulus-evoked neuronal activities in the LGN ODLs associated with contralateral- and ipsilateral-eye visual inputs were successfully differentiated and mapped using both blood-oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD)-weighted and cerebral blood volume (CBV)-weighted fMRI methods. The morphology of mapped LGN ODLs was in remarkable consistency with histology findings in terms of ODL shape, orientation, thickness and eye-dominance. Compared with the BOLD signal, the CBV signal provides higher reproducibility and better spatial resolvability for function mapping of LGN because of improved contrast-to-noise ratio and point-spread function. The capability of fMRI for non-invasively imaging the functional sub-units of ODL in a small LGN overcomes the limitation of conventional neural-recording approach, and it opens a new opportunity for studying critical roles of LGN in brain function and dysfunction at the fine scale of ocular dominance layer.
Zhang
Nanyin
N
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota Medical School of Medicine, 2021 6(th) Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Zhu
Xiao-Hong
XH
Zhang
Yi
Y
Park
Jae-keun
JK
Chen
Wei
W
D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D001810:Blood Volume; D002415:Cats; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
D010100:Oxygen