FMRI and intra-cranial electrocorticography recordings in the same human subjects reveals negative BOLD signal coupled with silenced neuronal activity

Fracasso, A. , Gaglianese, A., Vansteensel, M. J., Aarnoutse, E. J., Ramsey, N. F., Dumoulin, S. O. and Petridou, N. (2022) FMRI and intra-cranial electrocorticography recordings in the same human subjects reveals negative BOLD signal coupled with silenced neuronal activity. Brain Structure and Function, 227(4), pp. 1371-1384. (doi: 10.1007/s00429-021-02342-4) (PMID:34363092)

Abstract

Positive blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses (PBR), as measured by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), are the most utilized measurements to non-invasively map activity in the brain. Recent studies have consistently shown that BOLD responses are not exclusively positive. Negative BOLD responses (NBR) have been reported in response to specific sensory stimulations and tasks. However, the exact relationship between NBR and the underlying metabolic and neuronal demand is still under debate. In this study, we investigated the neurophysiological basis of negative BOLD using fMRI and intra-cranial electrophysiology (electrocorticography, ECoG) measurements from the same human participants. We show that, for those electrodes that responded to visual stimulation, PBR are correlated with high-frequency band (HFB) responses. Crucially, NBR were associated with an absence of HFB power responses and an unpredicted decrease in the alpha power responses.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fracasso, Dr Alessio
• Authors: Fracasso, A., Gaglianese, A., Vansteensel, M. J., Aarnoutse, E. J., Ramsey, N. F., Dumoulin, S. O., and Petridou, N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Brain Structure and Function
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1863-2653
• ISSN (Online): 1863-2661
• Published Online: 07 August 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Brain Structure and Function 227(4): 1371-1384
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
303685		Stable perception of external stimuli over time: oculo-motor and visual processing mechanisms	Alessio Fracasso	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/S006605/1	NP - Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging (CCNi)