Quantitative assessment of blood flow, blood volume and blood oxygenation effects in functional magnetic resonance imaging

Peter C.M. Van Zijl, Scott M. Eleff, John A. Ulatowski, Joni M.E. Oja, Aziz M. Uluǧ, Richard J. Traystman, Risto A. Kauppinen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

389 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ability to measure the effects of local alterations in blood flow, blood volume and oxygenation by nuclear magnetic resonance has stimulated a surge of activity in functional MRI of many organs, particularly in its application to cognitive neuroscience. However, the exact description of these effects in terms of the interrelations between the MRI signal changes and the basic physiological parameters has remained an elusive goal. We here present this fundamental theory for spin-echo signal changes in perfused tissue and validate it in vivo in the cat brain by using the physiological alteration of hypoxic hypoxia. These experiments show that high-resolution absolute blood volume images can be obtained by using hemoglobin as a natural intravascular contrast agent. The theory also correctly predicts the magnitude of spin-echo MRI signal intensity changes on brain activation and thereby provides a sound physiological basis for these types of studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)159-167
Number of pages9
JournalNature medicine
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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