Potential Effect of Endothelial Signaling on Cerebral Blood Flow Response to Neural Activation

Hemodynamic signals are used in many advanced brain functional imaging modalities to indirectly map the spatial and temporal distribution of neural activity. We used a combination of optical methods, including optoge-netic neurostimulation and optical coherence tomography-angiography to study some salient features of cerebral blood flow response to local stimulation of neural populations. Our study showed how endothelial cell signaling and retro-propagation of dilation in the vascular network can lead to negative cerebral blood flow response which can be misinterpreted as neural deactivation. Based on this observations, network topography should be a factor when hemodynamic signals are used to map neural activity.