Mapping BOLD-Coupled CBF Changes with Improved Sensitivity

Molly G. Bright¹, Kevin Murphy¹

Resting state BOLD fMRI is a powerful technique for probing brain function. However, it is difficult to characterize these fluctuations using arterial spin labeling. We present a new method of mapping changes in CBF that are coupled to BOLD fluctuations, rather than linked to a modeled stimulus, within the framework of a general linear model and utilizing a dual-echo sequence to capture ASL and BOLD data simultaneously. This is a more sensitive method for mapping coupled CBF and BOLD changes throughout the brain than conventional correlation approaches, and also improves the robustness of CBF statistical maps during a known stimulus.