Functional MRI (fMRI) is a method for non-invasively measuring whole-brain neural activity via changes in the environment surrounding water molecule protons associated with neural activity. Recent developments in high-field MRI have enabled us to perform high-resolution fMRI measurements in rodent models. There are still issues to overcome in animal fMRI research, such as anesthesia, but it is expected to serve as a bridge research because of its usefulness in studying disease mechanisms, such as disease models by genetic modification and in combination with invasive measurements.
Tomokazu Tsurugizawa presents research results from the fusion of MRI and basic neuroscience research techniques (model animals, chemical genetics, electrophysiology, etc.). Furthermore, he introduces in addition to BOLD fMRI, diffusion fMRI and MEMRI, which are non-BOLD fMRI methods.
On Demand Session
Dr. Tomokazu Tsurugizawa
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan