? ? The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal exhibits spontaneous fluctuations in a variety of conditions, even in the absence of task. Remarkably, these fluctuations are correlated in regions of the brain that are functionally and anatomically related, suggesting an intrinsic organization is present that supports ongoing brain activity. Neurologic disorders and psychiatric diseases have been shown to disrupt these fluctuations in characteristic ways which may one day have diagnostic and prognostic value. The objective of this research is to understand the organization of these spontaneous fluctuations. Not only will this further our understanding of how the brain functions in health, but also how to interpret disturbances in these signals in disease. Using spontaneous BOLD fluctuation data that will be collected in this fMRI study, novel methods will be applied to determine preferential connectivity among member regions in intrinsic networks (Aim 1) and the directionality of influences in these regions (Aim 2). These two pieces of information are key components to how any network functions, from brain architecture to social interactions to economics. ? The objective of this study is to understand the intrinsic functioning of the human brain. Alterations in intrinsic brain activity are associated with a variety of neurologic and psychiatric diseases. This research will provide information relevant for brain function both in health and disease. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
5F30MH083483-02
Application #
7540979
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1-SRB-M (51))
Program Officer
Curvey, Mary F
Project Start
2007-09-26
Project End
2010-09-25
Budget Start
2008-09-26
Budget End
2009-09-25
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$27,496
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Zhang, Dongyang; Snyder, Abraham Z; Shimony, Joshua S et al. (2010) Noninvasive functional and structural connectivity mapping of the human thalamocortical system. Cereb Cortex 20:1187-94
Zhang, Dongyang; Raichle, Marcus E (2010) Disease and the brain's dark energy. Nat Rev Neurol 6:15-28
Shimony, Joshua S; Zhang, Dongyang; Johnston, James M et al. (2009) Resting-state spontaneous fluctuations in brain activity: a new paradigm for presurgical planning using fMRI. Acad Radiol 16:578-83
Zhang, Dongyang; Johnston, James M; Fox, Michael D et al. (2009) Preoperative sensorimotor mapping in brain tumor patients using spontaneous fluctuations in neuronal activity imaged with functional magnetic resonance imaging: initial experience. Neurosurgery 65:226-36
Fox, Michael D; Zhang, Dongyang; Snyder, Abraham Z et al. (2009) The global signal and observed anticorrelated resting state brain networks. J Neurophysiol 101:3270-83
Zhang, Dongyang; Snyder, Abraham Z; Fox, Michael D et al. (2008) Intrinsic functional relations between human cerebral cortex and thalamus. J Neurophysiol 100:1740-8