Principal Investigator: Federico Giove

Selected researcher: dott.ssa Maria Guidi

The research project involves the development and application of innovative functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques, aimed both at increasing spatial specificity and at characterizing and reducing biases caused by physiological noise.

The vascular signal will be described in terms of dynamics and frequency content using time series derived from high-resolution multitask and multicontrast functional imaging techniques. Specifically, conventional sequences such as blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) will be used alongside sequences weighted on purely vascular contrasts like vascular space occupancy (VASO) for cerebral blood volume and arterial spin labeling (ASL) for cerebral blood flow. The functional signal will be modulated through experimental tasks of various types, including hypercapnia, hyperoxia, visual and motor tasks, and resting state.

The vascular dynamics present in the fMRI signals will be associated with physiological processes monitored through peripheral measures (breathing, heartbeat, partial pressure of end-tidal CO2) in order to characterize their spatial patterns and allow their use in physiological noise mitigation.

• • Project start and end date: 29/05/2025 – 28/05/2027
  • Funding source: MUR -PNRR – Next Generation EU, Missione 4 Componente 2 Investimento 1.2 – Finanziamento di progetti presentati da giovani ricercatori” – Decreto Direttoriale MUR n. 47 del 20 febbraio 2025 “Decreto per l’assunzione di ricercatori internazionali post-dottorato”
  • CUP: F87G25000060006
  • Funding amount:109.000,00