Multi-Slice LINE-scanning (MS-LINE) method to characterize the laminar specificity and variability in both evoked and resting-state fMRI

Ultra-high field magnetic field strengths open new possibility for studying the neuronal input/output circuitry of the cortex and functional connectivity across the cortical layers. However, the spatiotemporal characteristics of laminar-specific fMRI signal remains to be better characterized in both task-related and resting state condition. Here, we present Multi-Slice FLASH based LINE-scanning (MS-LINE) methods, showing the multi-slice laminar-specific fMRI variability at different cortical regions of anesthetized rats. The results identify the distinct neurovascular coupling laminar patterns corresponding to different state of brain activity