Non-invasive measures of Neurovascular Coupling in humans

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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.