Resting State Neural Network Demonstrated with Cerebral Blood Volume Based fMRI Using the USPIO Agent Ferumoxytol in Humans

Deqiang Qiu¹, Greg Zaharchuk¹, Thomas Christen¹, Wendy W. Ni¹, Gary H. Glover¹, Michael E. Moseley¹

In this paper, we present the first study demonstrating the synchronously spontaneous fluctuations of cerebral blood volume (CBV) in humans by using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron particle (USPIO) for fMRI (termed ICE-BVI). Consistent with previous methods utilizing BOLD and CBF, CBV demonstrates spontaneous fluctuations that are synchronized within putative resting state neural networks. ICE-BVI provides a new means for studying the mechanisms of spontaneous fluctuations, and may improve the sensitivity of detection of resting state neural networks.