Exploring methodological frontiers in laminar fMRI

Abstract

This review examines the methodological challenges and advancements in laminar functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). With the advent of ultra-high-field MRI scanners, laminar fMRI has become pivotal in elucidating the intricate micro-architectures and functionalities of the human brain at a mesoscopic scale. Despite its profound potential, laminar fMRI faces significant challenges such as signal loss at high spatial resolution, limited specificity to laminar signatures, complex layer-specific analysis, the necessity for precise anatomical alignment, and prolonged acquisition times. This review discusses current methodologies, highlights typical challenges in laminar fMRI research, introduces innovative sequence and analysis methods, and outlines potential solutions for overcoming existing technical barriers. It aims to provide a technical overview of the field's current state, emphasizing both the impact of existing hurdles and the advancements that shape future prospects.

Keywords

Laminar fMRI / cortical layer / cortical depth / high-resolution fMRI

Author contributions

Y.C. (Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing), and R.-Y.Z. (Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing - review & editing).

Conflict of interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2023YFF1204200) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32441102 and 32100901) to R-Y. Zhang, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health (R03EB034324) to Y. Chai.

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