High-Frequency Signals Observed in Brain Vessels via Fast Imaging Sequence

Advances in brain imaging technologies have facilitated the determination of functional characteristics of brain areas. However, understanding brain function necessitates exploring signaling processes between brain areas in addition to their functional roles. Functional MRI (fMRI) has been instrumental in identifying brain area functions, yet its temporal resolution limits direct measurement of fast neuronal activity. Recent studies have endeavored to detect fast MRI signals induced by neuronal responses, albeit with limited reproducibility. In this study, we investigated a method proposed by others that achieved fast imaging using short echo and repetition times. Originally applied at 9.4T, we explored the feasibility of implementing this method on 3T scanners, which have lower sensitivity. Our results indicated that the method failed to detect neuronal-origin responses but revealed signals from vessels, suggesting potential insights into brain physiology. Although fast neuronal responses remained undetected, our findings underscore the possibility of characterizing highfrequency signals from vessels, warranting further exploration.