Cited by 43Advanced MRI Techniques and ApplicationsFunctional Brain Connectivity StudiesAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications

Technical and conceptual considerations for performing and interpreting functional MRI studies in awake rats

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Febo, Marcelo·2011·Frontiers in Psychiatry

Abstract

Functional neuroimaging studies in rodents have the potential to provide insight into neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. The strength of the technique lies in its non-invasive nature that can permit longitudinal functional studies in the same animal over its adult life. The relatively good spatial and temporal resolution and the ever-growing database on the biological and biophysical basis of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal make it a unique technique in preclinical neuroscience research. Our laboratory has used imaging to investigate brain activation in awake rats following cocaine administration and during the presentation of lactation-associated sensory stimuli. Factors that deserve attention when planning functional magnetic resonance imaging studies in rats include technical issues, animal physiology and interpretability of the resulting data. The present review discusses the pros and cons of animal imaging with a particular focus on the technical aspects of studies with awake rats. Overall, the benefits of the technique outweigh its limitations and the rapidly evolving methods will open the way for more laboratories to employ the technique in neuroscience research.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00043

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  • The rat has potential for geroscience research because its aging physiology is closer to humans than mice, especially for onset of certain age-related conditions, and its larger size permits serial sampling and imaging not feasible in mice.

    “However, the rat has tremendous potential for use in geroscience research, owning to its aging physiology being closer to humans compared to mice, especially with respect to onset of certain age-related conditions, as well as its larger size, which permits serial sampling and imaging studies not feasible in the mouse [36–41].”

    From Reducing Senescent Cell Burden in Aging and Disease (2020) · cites this paper as [36]

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  1. Nadasdy Z. Csicsvari J. Penttonen M. Hetke J. Wise K. Buzsaki G. (1998). “Extracellular recording and analysis of neuronal activity: from single cells to ensembles,” in Neuronal Ensembles: Strategies for Recording and Decoding, 1st Edn, eds Eichenbaum H. Davis J. L. (New York: Wiley-Liss), 17– 56

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Authors
Febo, M.
Affiliations
University of Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Febo, Marcelo
Venue
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Published
2011
Volume
2
Pages
43-43
ISSN
1664-0640 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2093815501
Cited by
43
References
150
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3
FWCI
0.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA019946)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
Keywords
awake rats, BOLD signal, brain activation, cocaine, lactation, longitudinal imaging

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