Layer fMRI at 5.0 T: A Viable Alternative for Mesoscale Brain Mapping
Poster No:
1064
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Yiyun Qi1, Yue Zhang1, Yanting Zhu1, Mengqi Jiang1, Xin Ye2, Yijing Dong2, Jiayu Zhu2, Shuguang Liu2, Zhiwei Ma1,3,4
Institutions:
1School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China, 2United Imaging Healthcare Group, Shanghai, China, 3State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China, 4Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Zhiwei Ma
School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University|State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University|Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center
Shanghai, China|Shanghai, China|Shanghai, China
School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University|State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University|Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center
Shanghai, China|Shanghai, China|Shanghai, China
Introduction:
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is advancing toward mesoscale spatial resolution, enabling the study of brain activity at the level of cortical layers. This approach, commonly termed "layer fMRI," provides insights into how information flows between cortical layers, with implications for understanding the neural circuits underlying perception, cognition, and action. Previous layer fMRI studies at 7.0T have demonstrated layer-specific responses in regions such as V1 [1-3], A1 [4-5], M1 [6-7], and S1 [8]. For example, in the M1, superficial layers predominantly reflect sensory or premotor inputs, while deep layers show outputs to subcortical regions [7]. Despite these advances, widespread clinical use of ultra-high-field systems (≥7.0T) is limited by cost and availability. To address this gap, we investigated the feasibility of layer fMRI at 5.0T, providing a more accessible platform for mesoscale mapping in both research and clinical environments.
Methods:
We acquired submillimeter-resolution fMRI data from six healthy participants on a 5.0T MRI scanner equipped with a 48-channel transmit-receive head coil. BOLD imaging (0.8×0.8×1.2 mm³; TR=2s) was performed during a finger-tapping task consisting of six rest-task cycles (10 volumes each). Structural images were obtained using MP2RAGE (0.8 mm isotropic). Cerebral blood volume (CBV)-fMRI data were collected using a 2D-VASO sequence (5 slices, 0.8×0.8×1.2 mm³; TR=4.5s) with a similar finger-tapping paradigm of 12 blocks. The middle VASO slice, selected for its optimal nulling time, was chosen for analysis. To ensure it accurately encompassed the M1 region, we decided the location of this slice based on both the BOLD activation map and the hand-knob anatomical landmark near the precentral gyrus. Preprocessing included NORDIC denoising [9], motion correction, nuisance regression, and BOLD correction. Cortical depth analysis was performed with LayNii [10], generating 20 geometric layers for layer-specific signal quantification (Fig. 1).
·Figure 1. Location of the Hand Region and Individual-Level VASO Signal Changes.
Results:
We observed a characteristic "double peak" pattern in CBV responses, with strong signal changes in both superficial and deep cortical layers (Fig. 2). This pattern aligns with established models of layer-dependent neural circuitry: superficial layers receive thalamic input, while deeper layers provide output signals to subcortical and spinal targets. These findings match known layer-specific activation patterns at 7.0T, confirming that 5.0T can achieve comparable mesoscale resolution and layer specificity.
·Figure 2. Group-Level VASO and BOLD Signal Changes (N=6). Here, BOLD signals are derived from the non-nulled time frames of the VASO scan.
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate the feasibility of layer fMRI at 5.0T, broadening access to mesoscale brain mapping approaches beyond ultra-high-field systems. This expansion enhances the potential for clinical applications, aiding in the understanding of neurocircuitry and fostering translation into diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Activation (eg. BOLD task-fMRI) 1
Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Metabolism and Neurotransmission:
Cortical Anatomy and Brain Mapping 2
Keywords:
Cortical Layers
Data analysis
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Other - VASO
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Abstract Information
By submitting your proposal, you grant permission for the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) to distribute your work in any format, including video, audio print and electronic text through OHBM OnDemand, social media channels, the OHBM website, or other electronic publications and media.
The Open Science Special Interest Group (OSSIG) is introducing a reproducibility challenge for OHBM 2025. This new initiative aims to enhance the reproducibility of scientific results and foster collaborations between labs. Teams will consist of a “source” party and a “reproducing” party, and will be evaluated on the success of their replication, the openness of the source work, and additional deliverables. Click here for more information. Propose your OHBM abstract(s) as source work for future OHBM meetings by selecting one of the following options:
Please indicate below if your study was a "resting state" or "task-activation” study.
Healthy subjects only or patients (note that patient studies may also involve healthy subjects):
Was this research conducted in the United States?
Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel? NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.
Were any animal research approved by the relevant IACUC or other animal research panel? NOTE: Any animal studies without IACUC approval will be automatically rejected.
Please indicate which methods were used in your research:
For human MRI, what field strength scanner do you use?
Which processing packages did you use for your study?
Provide references using APA citation style.
2. Muckli, L. (2015), Contextual Feedback to Superficial Layers of V1, Current Biology.
3. Scheeringa, R. (2016), The Relationship Between Oscillatory EEG Activity and the Laminar-Specific BOLD Signal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
4. Moerel, M. (2019), Processing Complexity Increases in Superficial Layers of Human Primary Auditory Cortex, Scientific Reports.
5. Faes, L. K. (2023), Cerebral Blood Volume Sensitive Layer-fMRI in the Human Auditory Cortex at 7T: Challenges and Capabilities, PLoS ONE.
6. Persichetti, A. S. (2020), Layer-Specific Contributions to Imagined and Executed Hand Movements in Human Primary Motor Cortex, Current Biology.
7. Huber, L. (2017), High-Resolution CBV-fMRI Allows Mapping of Laminar Activity and Connectivity of Cortical Input and Output in Human M1, Neuron.
8. Polimeni, J. R. (2010), Laminar Analysis of 7T BOLD Using an Imposed Spatial Activation Pattern in Human V1, NeuroImage.
9. Vizioli, L. (2021), Lowering the thermal noise barrier in functional brain mapping with magnetic resonance imaging, Nature Communications.
10. Huber, L. (2021), LayNii: A software suite for layer-fMRI, Neuroimage.