Core Contributors
Faculty
Neural circuit control of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in the sleeping human brain
Sleep transforms the flow of CSF in the brain. Our project uses novel MRI techniques to identify how 4D CSF flow changes during sleep. We are investigating the neural circuit control systems that dynamically regulate CSF flow in humans.
Techniques: Ultra-high field MRI, simultaneous EEG-fMRI, novel contrasts in MRI for fluid measurement, image and signal processing, behavorial state tracking
PhD Students
Quantitative CSF flow imaging in humans using fMRI
fMRI can be used to detect CSF flow in the brain which provides a useful noninvasive tool for monitoring flow with high sensitivity and high spatiotemporal resolution. The signal however is not quantitative, so our aim is to develop new methods using computational modeling and deep learning to increase quantitative information in measured CSF flow signals.
Techniques: fMRI, CSF flow imaging, Mathematical modeling, deep learning
Respiratory modulation of CSF flow and cerebral blood flow
Our aim is to understand the relationship between respiratory dynamics, CSF flow, cerebral blood flow, and autonomic state. Awake human brain and physiology data are measured during paced diaphragmatic breathing tasks that reflect various states of respiratory arousal. This research may aid our understanding of how glymphatic activity can be modulated by autonomic state and respiratory frequency in awake humans.
Techniques: Ultra-High Field (7T) fast fMRI, phase contrast imaging, arterial spin labeling, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, analysis of CSF velocity, CSF inflow signal, local and global BOLD activation, local and global cerebral blood flow, physiological recording (respiration, expired CO2, pulse)
Neurovascular drivers of CSF flow in healthy aging
Our aim is to understand the relative contributions of physiological, neural, and hemodynamic drivers of cerebrospinal fluid flow in the human brain. We measure hemodynamic, neural and physiological responses to intense visual stimulation in young and older groups. This research may aid our understanding of how glymphatic activity changes in healthy aging.
Techniques: EEG-fMRI, Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, analysis of CSF signals, local and global BOLD activation, polysomnography (sleep EEG), physiological recording (respiration, skin conductance, pulse oximetry)
Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics changes across arousal states after total sleep deprivation in humans
Our aim is to explore the impact of sleep deprivation-induced low arousal states on ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, both at rest and during sustained attention tasks among healthy human participants. Utilizing noninvasive methods, we image the CSF dynamics concurrently with whole-brain activity monitoring through the integration of fast functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and eyetracking. Gaining insights into the relationship between CSF dynamics, hemodynamic and neuronal activity across various attentional states will provide a clearer understanding of how the glymphatic system contributes to the maintenance and restoration of optimal brain functions.
Techniques: EEG-fMRI, EEG analysis including ERP analysis, Local and global BOLD activation analysis, Analysis of CSF signals in time and frequency domain, Sleep scoring, Physiological recordings (respiration, EKG, pulse oximetry, skin conductance), Eyetracking
Postdoc
Neural mechanisms driving CSF flow changes during arousal state transitions in humans
Our aim is to investigate neurological control of CSF flow in humans in addition to peripheral physiology and other biological systems. We utilized ultra-high field fMRI to image the human brainstem signals preceding large CSF flow that may play a role in regulating changes in CSF. This research helps to advance our understanding of the neural control for a critical aspect of the central nervous system and may shed light on the related neuropathology caused by the dysregulation of such controlling signals.
Techniques: Ultra-high field fast fMRI, Human flow imaging, Brainstem imaging, Whole-brain hemodynamic response, Peripheral physiology
MGH
Faculty
PhD Student
The brain tissue displaces subtly during normal physiology, and this tissue displacement may affect the motion patterns of surrounding CSF. We use simultaneous tissue motion quantification and BOLD fMRI in humans in vivo to investigate how blood volume changes, tissue displacement, and CSF flow may be related.
Techniques: Ultra-high field MRI, MRI motion encoding and quantification, Image and signal processing, BOLD fMRI