The mechanisms behind spontaneous activations in the BOLD signal are not understood. Quasiperiodic patterns are reliably recurring spatiotemporal events that involve spontaneous fluctuations of brain regions. We hypothesize that quasiperiodic patterns are regulated by neuromodulatory inputs from a subcortical driver. Pharmaceutical modulation of the locus coeruleus resulted in reduction of the strength and frequency of quasiperiodic patterns in the BOLD signal. This indicates a direct relationship between the locus coeruleus and quasiperiodic patterns. These findings suggest that spontaneous activity in the brain may be arising from controlled neuromodulatory input, allowing for a clearer understanding of the mechanisms that drive it.
This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.