Functional MRI study of brain function under resting and activated states

Numerous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have been developed with various imaging contrasts, which can be tightly linked to brain functions, electrophysiology and diseases. Recent MRI technology developments have resulted in several important functional MRI (fMRI) methods based on the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast. These fMRI methods have been applied to mapping brain activation in laminar level as well functional connectivity network in a resting brain. We have found a strong correlation between the spontaneous brain activity and BOLD fluctuation indicating a tight neurovascular relation.