Investigation of Feasibility of Measurement of Neurofluid Movement by Propagator Analysis based on Q-space Imaging

Motivation: To quantitatively measure neurofluid movement in the brain parenchyma of mouse and human by propagator analysis of q-space imaging (QSI). Goal(s): The accuracy of the propagator analysis to measure the neurofluid movement including the pulsation and the blood flow was investigated by Bloch simulation. Approach: The propagator analysis of pulsatile neurofluid or capillary blood flow in a voxel was conducted by Bloch simulation. The accuracy of the technique in the constant flow was validated by experiments. Results: The propagator analysis indicated the high accuracy of the velocity measurement of the pulsatile neurofluid movement and the blood flow. Impact: The high accuracy of the velocity measurement of QSI-based propagator analysis of pulsatile movement and blood flow in the voxel was validated by Bloch simulation. The technique may reveal neurofluid movement and clearance mechanism of neurowastes in human brain.