Functional diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the human primary visual cortex at 7 T. Issue 2 (19th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Branzoli, Francesca; Techawiboonwong, Aranee; Kan, Hermien; Webb, Andrew; Ronen, Itamar
• Is Part Of: Magnetic resonance in medicine. Volume 69:Issue 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 303
• Page End: 309
• Publication Date: 2012-11-19
• Subjects: Nuclear magnetic resonance -- Periodicals; Electron paramagnetic resonance -- Periodicals; 616.07548
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.24542
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-3194

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="abs1-1" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose:</title> <p>Microstructural and metabolic changes directly related to neuronal activation have been investigated using functional diffusion‐weighted spectroscopy.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-2" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods:</title> <p>The volume of interest was positioned in the primary visual cortex. A time series of alternating diffusion‐ and non‐diffusion‐weighted <sup>1</sup>H spectra was acquired at 7 T employing stimulated echo acquisition mode sequence and a long diffusion time (Δ = 245 ms). Time‐resolved series of metabolite apparent diffusion coefficient values were derived.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-3" sec-type="section"> <title>Results:</title> <p>Significant increases in apparent diffusion coefficient of 3.3 ± 1.4% (<italic>p</italic> = 0.05) and 3.9 ± 0.9% (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002) for total n‐acetyl aspartate and total creatine, respectively, and 8.1 ± 2.5% (<italic>p</italic> = 0.03) for total choline were observed in response to visual stimulation.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-4" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>The increase in apparent diffusion coefficient for these metabolites is a potential indication for microstructural changes in neurons during neural activation and/or for an increase in the energy‐dependent cytoplasmic streaming associated with enhanced metabolism during visual stimulation. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>