Microstructure & Connectivity Lab 
Publications (Functional Connectivity)

Authors: Kurt G. Schilling, Muwei Li, Francois Rheault, Yurui Gao, Leon Cai, Yu Zhao, Lyuan Xu, Zhaohua Ding, Adam W. Anderson, Bennett A. Landman, John C. Gore

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences  (2023)

Summary: This study challenges conventional fMRI approaches by demonstrating that both gray and white matter exhibit widespread, time-locked BOLD signal changes in response to simple tasks. Using a model-free analysis, we show that nearly all brain tissue is functionally engaged, contradicting the assumption that white matter BOLD signals are artifacts. These findings suggest that traditional fMRI studies may significantly underestimate the extent of brain activation, highlighting the need to reconsider how functional signals are interpreted.

Why this is a Notable Lab publication: This study challenges the traditional view of brain activity by showing that both gray and white matter actively respond to tasks, suggesting that half of the brain’s signals have been overlooked in standard MRI research.