Article abstract


Nature Neuroscience 11, 72 - 79 (2008)
Published online: 25 November 2007 | doi:10.1038/nn2017

Development of hemodynamic responses and functional connectivity in rat somatosensory cortex

Matthew T Colonnese1, Marnie A Phillips2, Martha Constantine-Paton1,2,3, Kai Kaila4 & Alan Jasanoff2,5,6


Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a valuable method for probing postnatal circuit refinement and plasticity. However, its use during early development has been hindered by uncertainty as to the nature of neurovascular coupling in young individuals. Here we used somatosensory stimulation in rats to determine age-related parameters of the blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) signal from its apparent inception on postnatal day 13 to adulthood. By comparing fMRI measurements with electrophysiological recordings, we determined that the regional BOLD response in these animals undergoes a systematic decline in latency and growth in amplitude over this period. We found no evidence of negative BOLD at any age. Maturation of hemodynamic responses correlated with age-dependent increases in susceptibility to inhibition of carbonic anhydrase. With knowledge of the infant BOLD response characteristics, we showed that interhemispheric and higher-order cortical stimulus responses are enhanced during the first several weeks after birth.

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  1. McGovern Institute for Brain Research, 150 Albany St., NW14–2213, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
  2. Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, 150 Albany St., NW14–2213, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
  3. Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 150 Albany St., NW14–2213, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
  4. Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, and Neuroscience Center, P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
  5. Departments of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 150 Albany St., NW14–2213, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
  6. Nuclear Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 150 Albany St., NW14–2213, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.

Correspondence to: Matthew T Colonnese1 e-mail: colonnese@inmed.univ-mrs.fr



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