In vivo imaging of neurovascular coupling

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Functional magnetic resonance imaging has greatly enhanced our understanding of how human brain processes information. In particular, while it is well established that brain activity is associated with local changes in brain blood flow that MRI can detect, the mechanism that links brain activity to blood flow is not well understood. Since blood flow adjustments in response to brain activity changes are critical for healthy brain function, different aspects of this coupling have become the focus of many recent studies. However, there are still very little data available on this topic in the live mammalian brain, the model most pertinent to our understanding of human brain function. In the proposed research, we will perform detailed microscopic imaging in live transgenic mice, as to further our understanding of the cellular processes that underlie the link between blood circulation and activity in the brain. In addition, this research will enhance the experimental tools and methodologies for the study of brain function in live mammals and aid in the interpretation of brain activation patterns observed in humans via functional MRI.