Direct Imaging of Neuronal Activity: High Temporal and Spatial Resolution

This lecture introduces a novel approach, Direct Imaging of Neuronal Activity (DIANA), using MRI to dynamically image neuronal spiking activity in milliseconds precision. DIANA enables the detection of neuronal activity with high temporal and spatial resolution, breaking new ground in brain science. The method was demonstrated through in vivo mouse brain imaging, showing high correlations with neuronal spike activities and capturing the sequential propagation of neuronal activity. DIANA's contrast mechanism is almost unaffected by hemodynamic responses, providing an in-depth understanding of the brain's functional organization. The lecture discusses the importance of milliseconds temporal resolution in capturing transient effects of neuronal activity and elucidating the hierarchical functional connection of the brain by tracking neuronal activity propagation.