fMRI Signals Often Misread Neural Activity

4 months ago

fMRI signals often mismatch true brain activity, contradicting a core assumption in thousands of studies.
In ~40% of cases, increased fMRI signals appeared where neural activity was reduced, and vice versa.
Brain regions can meet energy demands by extracting more oxygen from blood rather than increasing blood flow.
Findings challenge interpretations of fMRI studies in depression, Alzheimer’s, and aging, suggesting vascular differences may skew results.
Researchers propose combining fMRI with direct oxygen consumption measurements for more accurate brain activity models.

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