Title
fMRI response to blue light delivery in the naïve brain: Implications for combined optogenetic fMRI studies.
Abstract
The combination of optogenetics and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is referred to as opto-fMRI. Optogenetics utilises genetic engineering to introduce light sensitive actuator proteins into cells. Functional MRI (fMRI) is a specialist form of magnetic resonance imaging concerned with imaging changes in blood flow and oxygenation, linked to regional variation in metabolic activity, in the brain. This study describes a methodological concern regarding the effects of light delivery into the brain for the purposes of opto-fMRI. We show that blue light delivery to the naïve rat brain causes profound fMRI responses, despite the absence of optogenetic activation. We demonstrate that these fMRI responses are dependent upon laser power and show that the laser causes significant heating. We identify how heating impacts upon the MR signal causing NMR frequency shifts, and T1 and T2* changes. This study brings attention to a possible confounder which must be taken into account when opto-fMRI experiments are designed.
Year
DOI
Venue
2013
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.10.074
NeuroImage
Keywords
Field
DocType
ASL,BOLD,CBF,ChR2,fMRI,GE-EPI,NMR,PRF,SE,SPM,ROI
Neuroscience,Optogenetics,Functional magnetic resonance imaging,Optical control,Resting state fMRI,Psychology,Neuroimaging,Magnetic resonance imaging
Journal
Volume
ISSN
Citations 
66
1053-8119
12
PageRank 
References 
Authors
1.23
0
7
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Isabel N. Christie1151.62
Jack A. Wells2364.51
Paul Southern3121.23
Nephtali Marina4121.23
Sergey Kasparov5121.23
Alexander V. Gourine6121.23
Mark F. Lythgoe713912.63