# Project 3

> **NIH NIH U19** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2022 · $416,971

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – PROJECT 3
We propose to leverage our state-of-the-art functional MRI (fMRI) tools combined with electroencephalography
(EEG) to investigate the pial neurovascular circuit in humans. This circuit is composed of a network of pial
arterioles that integrate neuronal activity with the intrinsic arteriolar vasomotion, producing dynamic patterns of
coherent oscillations in arteriolar diameter that effectively parcellate the cortical mantle.
Today fMRI is the most widespread tool for measuring neural activity noninvasively across the entire human
brain. All fMRI signals are vascular in origin, thus proper interpretation of these hemodynamic signals is key to
understanding the underlying neural activity. Our team has demonstrated that spontaneous oscillations in arterial
vascular diameter, or vasomotion, in the cerebral cortex is entrained by local neural activity, and that arterioles
behave as coupled oscillators with other connected arterioles via active signaling along the vascular
endothelium. This motivates the central hypothesis of this U19—that local neuronal drive and neuromodulatory
inputs with ultralow-frequency components compete with the intrinsic oscillatory properties of arterioles. This
allows different cortical regions to oscillate at different frequencies and results in spatial parcellation of
vasodynamics and the formation of different constellations of temporally coherent regions. The coupling of
arterial oscillations will induce coupling of the downstream venous blood oxygenation that is the basis of Blood-
Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) contrast, the most commonly used fMRI signal.
 In Aim 1, we will adapt our noninvasive imaging tools to image the anatomy and dynamics of the human pial
arterial vascular network. We will then develop novel tools to measure diameter changes of pial arterioles to
directly track vasomotion in humans, and link these dynamics to standard fMRI measures. Our Aim 2 is a human
counterpart of Project 1; we will study vascular integration of multiple sensory drives by the pial neurovascular
circuit and its reflection in large-scale hemodynamics. Our Aim 3 is the human counterpart of Project 2; we will
record BOLD fMRI and EEG simultaneously during spontaneous fluctuations in arousal state, and identify how
internal brain states are linked to spatial patterns of our imaging readouts. Similar to Project 2, we will test
whether these hemodynamic patterns, alone or in combination with EEG signals, can be used to predict cognitive
performance. Finally, we will work throughout with Project 4 to devise a phenomenological mathematical model
that captures the essence of a brain state from the standpoint of the vascular integrator producing large-scale
patterns of coherent vascular/hemodynamic fluctuations. Impact: Project 3 will offer a strong physiological
foundation for the interpretation of large-scale fMRI signals in humans and better understanding of the
mechanisms linking spontaneous ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470267
- **Project number:** 5U19NS123717-02
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** BRUCE R ROSEN
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $416,971
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-16 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470267

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470267, Project 3 (5U19NS123717-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470267. Licensed CC0.

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