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Cited by 93Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsAdvanced MRI Techniques and ApplicationsOptical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques

Water diffusion in brain cortex closely tracks underlying neuronal activity

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Tsurugizawa, Tomokazu, Ciobanu, Luisa, Le Bihan, Denis·2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1303178110PMC PMC3710802
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Abstract

Neuronal activity results in a local increase in blood flow. This concept serves as the basis for functional MRI. Still, this approach remains indirect and may fail in situations interfering with the neurovascular coupling mechanisms (drugs, anesthesia). Here we establish that water molecular diffusion is directly modulated by underlying neuronal activity using a rat forepaw stimulation model under different conditions of neuronal stimulation and neurovascular coupling. Under nitroprusside infusion, a neurovascular-coupling inhibitor, the diffusion response and local field potentials were maintained, whereas the hemodynamic response was abolished. As diffusion MRI reflects interactions of water molecules with obstacles (e.g., cell membranes), the observed changes point to a dynamic modulation of the neural tissue structure upon activation, which remains to be investigated. These findings represent a significant shift in concept from the current electrochemical and neurovascular coupling principles used for brain imaging, and open unique avenues to investigate mechanisms underlying brain function.

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  • Preclinical work has provided strong evidence that DfMRI responses are mechanistically distinct from BOLD responses.

    “Preclinical work has provided strong evidence that DfMRI responses are mechanistically distinct from BOLD responses (Abe, Tsurugizawa, et al., 2017; Tsurugizawa et al., 2013).”

    From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Tsurugizawa et al., 2013

  • Preclinical work suggests that some biomechanical changes occur faster than BOLD responses, in a similar way to DfMRI.

    “Preclinical work suggests that some biomechanical changes occur faster than BOLD responses, in a similar way to DfMRI (Nunes et al., 2021; Patz et al., 2019; Tsurugizawa et al., 2013).”

    From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Tsurugizawa et al., 2013

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Authors
Tsurugizawa, T., Ciobanu, L., & Le Bihan, D.
Affiliations
  • Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
  • NeuroSpin, Bât 145, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique-Saclay Center, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2013-06-25
Volume
110
Issue
28
Pages
11636-11641
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.1303178110
PMC
PMC3710802
OpenAlex
W1998588297
Cited by
93
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1
FWCI
6.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
Keywords
water diffusion, neuronal activity, neurovascular coupling, diffusion MRI, local field potentials, sodium nitroprusside, hemodynamic response, cerebral cortex, forepaw stimulation, cell membrane dynamics
MeSH terms
Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Electric Stimulation, Male, Neurons, Water, Rats, Wistar, Rats

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