{"id":"ecec353e-1e7c-4785-88ae-911ca585c9a0","slug":"from-the-bench-to-the-bedside-boldly-going-where-no-one-has-gone-before","title":"From the bench to the bedside: BOLDly going where no one has gone before","authors":["Jason S. Hauptman"],"abstract":"Background: The rapid increase in neuroscience literature poses a challenge for neurosurgeons to stay updated. Surgical Neurology International aims to assist by summarizing high-impact articles for easier consumption. This article discusses the utility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and the BOLD signal in understanding brain activity. Methods: The authors employed an optogenetic approach to investigate the origins of BOLD signals by using channelrhodopsin (ChR2) to manipulate neuronal activity in animal models. They conducted experiments using a 7T MRI scanner to observe BOLD signal changes in response to light pulses delivered to specific neurons. The study also explored the effects of stimulating corticothalamic and thalamocortical neurons. Results: The study found that positive BOLD signals correlated with the activation of excitatory neurons, while negative signals resulted from inhibitory interneuron activity. Additionally, the kinetics of the BOLD signal matched those observed in human studies, and the optogenetic technique demonstrated advantages in mapping functional circuitry without antidromic stimulation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that BOLD signals are indicative of excitatory neuronal activity, and optogenetics combined with BOLD-fMRI offers a powerful method for mapping brain circuitry. This approach may enhance our understanding of functional brain connectivity and improve preoperative planning in neurosurgery. Keywords: BOLD signal, fMRI, optogenetics, neurosurgery, brain mapping, neural circuits, excitatory neurons, inhibitory neurons","thumbnailUrl":null,"publishDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.66621","categories":["Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/ecec353e-1e7c-4785-88ae-911ca585c9a0/pdf"}