查看文章

Pharmacological MRI (phMRI) methods map the hemodynamic response to drug challenge as a surrogate for changes in neuronal activity. However, the central effects of drugs can be complex and include activity at the primary site of action, downstream effects in other brain regions and direct effects on vasculature and neurovascular coupling. Univariate analysis, normally applied to phMRI data, does not discriminate between these effects, and can result in anatomically non-specific activation patterns. We analysed inter-subject correlations in the amplitude of the slow phMRI response to map functionally connected brain regions recruited in response to pharmacological challenge. Application of d-amphetamine and fluoxetine revealed well-defined functional structure underlying the widespread signal changes detected via standard methods. Correlated responses were found to delineate key neurotransmitter …