Abstract #2233

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Mapping Using Cerebral Blood Flow: Comparison with Simultaneously Acquired BOLD in High-Susceptibility Regions

Sungho Tak¹, Danny J.J. Wang², Lirong Yan², J. Jean Chen

¹Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; ²Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States

In this study, we investigated cerebral blood flow (CBF)-based functional connectivity of the default mode network and the medial temporal regions using the dual-echo pseudo-continuous spin labeling (pCASL) technique. CBF and BOLD were measured simultaneously, and CBF-based connectivity revealed the entire default-mode network. Furthermore, as CBF is less sensitive to susceptibility effects than conventional BOLD, we were able to observe significant connectivity between the entorhinal cortex, medial orbitofrontal cortex and the parahippocampal cortex using fluctuations in CBF. These regions are anatomically connected within the medial temporal lobe, but are not observed using BOLD connectivity.