Mapping changes in tissue 23Na concentration and cerebral blood flow during a visual task using ASL and functional Sodium Imaging (fNaI)

Sodium MRI was combined with arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion MRI to detect changes in total sodium concentration (TSC) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) associated with visual tast activation on 6 healthy volunteers. There was no overlap between the areas in the visual cortex where there was a significant change in CBF (~38%) and the regions where a change (~11%) in TSC was detected. Results from partial volume correction indicate that most of the changes in TSC originated in the white matter.