Non-invasive measures of Neurovascular Coupling in humans

功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）已成为研究人类大脑功能的事实上的方法。 它通常用于评估各种神经系统疾病如何影响神经回路。 尽管如此，使用fMRI作为诊断和治疗此类疾病的生物标志物的进展仍然有限。 这是因为我们对fMRI的神经基础了解甚少，尤其是兴奋和抑制的贡献。 也就是说，我们仍然无法解释强或弱的功能性磁共振成像信号的含义。 更好地理解功能性磁共振成像反应背后的神经机制将为针对不同神经系统疾病中神经回路的哪些特定方面受到影响提供重大飞跃。 在这项研究计划中，我将开发新的方法，使用同时在人类神经和功能磁共振成像记录来回答有关兴奋性和抑制性细胞对功能磁共振成像信号的独立贡献的基本问题。

Functional Magnetic Resonance imaging (fMRI) has become the de facto method for studying brain function in humans. It is commonly used for assessing how various neurological disorders affect neural circuits. Despite this, the progress in using fMRI as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases has been limited. This is because we have a poor understanding of the neural basis of fMRI, especially the contributions of excitation and inhibition. That is, we are still unable to interpret the meaning of a strong' or weak' fMRI signal. A better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the fMRI response would provide a significant leap in targeting what particular aspects of the neural circuit are affected in different neurological disorders. In this research program, I will develop novel methodological approaches using simultaneous neural and fMRI recordings in humans to answer fundamental questions regarding the independent contributions of excitatory and inhibitory cells on the fMRI signal.