title: Characterizing Resting-State Brain Function Using Arterial Spin Labeling.
abstract: Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is an increasingly established magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that is finding broader applications in studying the healthy and diseased brain. This review addresses the use of ASL to assess brain function in the resting state. Following a brief technical description, we discuss the use of ASL in the following main categories: (1) resting-state functional connectivity (FC) measurement: the use of ASL-based cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements as an alternative to the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) technique to assess resting-state FC; (2) the link between network CBF and FC measurements: the use of network CBF as a surrogate of the metabolic activity within corresponding networks; and (3) the study of resting-state dynamic CBF-BOLD coupling and cerebral metabolism: the use of dynamic CBF information obtained using ASL to assess dynamic CBF-BOLD coupling and oxidative metabolism in the resting state. In addition, we summarize some future challenges and interesting research directions for ASL, including slice-accelerated (multiband) imaging as well as the effects of motion and other physiological confounds on perfusion-based FC measurement. In summary, this work reviews the state-of-the-art of ASL and establishes it as an increasingly viable MRI technique with high translational value in studying resting-state brain function.
authors.affiliation: 1 Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care , Toronto, Canada .|2 Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto , Toronto, Canada .
authors.forename: J Jean
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory of Functional MRI Technology, Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jann
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory of Functional MRI Technology, Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Danny J J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D063132:Connectome; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: arterial transit time; arterial-spin labeling; cerebral blood flow; functional connectivity; functional magnetic resonance imaging; neurovascular coupling; perfusion; water permeability