Plumbing the Mind: Brain Activation and the Regulation of Cerebral Blood Flow

Newswise — How does the brain control its own blood supply? Understanding the basis of this phenomenon is a vital issue for neuroscience, not least because changes in blood flow and oxygen content form the basis of BOLD fMRI, a powerful tool for imaging human brain activity. In this symposium, eight leading experts will discuss the biology of neurovascular coupling and its practical implications for fMRI and other imaging methods. The morning session will focus on cellular mechanisms of coupling in health and disease. The afternoon session will examine applications to whole brain imaging and will explore the technological frontiers of what can be measured using MRI.

This symposium is the second in an annual series, hosted by the Martinos Center and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research. Confirmed speakers include Giorgio Carmignoto (University of Padua), Anna Devor (Massachusetts General Hospital), Amiram Grinvald (Weizmann Institute), Edith Hamel (McGill University), Elizabeth Hillman (Columbia University), Robert Kraus (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Martin Lauritzen (University of Copenhagen), and Peter van Zijl (Johns Hopkins University).

The sessions will be introduced by Chris Moore and Alan Jasanoff of the McGovern Institute. There will be ample opportunity for questions and for meeting with the speakers.

Attendees are invited to present posters, which will be on display throughout the day.

The symposium will take place from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, 43 Vassar Street (building 46, room 3002) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Lunch will be provided to those who register. There will be a reception after the symposium.