Mapping the Link between Resting-State fMRI and Cerebral Oxidative Metabolism

Motivation: By understanding the link between rs-fMRI and cerebral oxidative metabolism (CMRO2), which is directly linked to neuronal activity, we can increase the interpretability of rs-fMRI metrics. Goal(s): This study aimed to establish associations between rs-fMRI metrics and CMRO2, and to demonstrate how our novel macrovascular correction can enhance these associations. Approach: We measured resting CMRO2 using gas-free calibrated fMRI, and used the linear mixed-effects models to investigate its associations with various rs-fMRI metrics before and after macrovascular correction. Results: rs-fMRI metrics were more strongly associated to CMRO2 after macrovascular correction, with global functional connectivity density being mostly strongly associated. Impact: rs-fMRI has limited clinical interpretability due to its complicated nature. We improve the interpretability of rs-fMRI by showing which metric is more closely linked to cerebral metabolism and how links can be enhanced by reducing the macrovascular bias in rs-fMRI.