Dec 2025: In this paper published in Nature Neuroscience, we present findings that challenge the traditional understanding of the BOLD fMRI signal. We discovered that in about 40% of voxels exhibiting strong BOLD responses, there were opposing changes in oxygen metabolism. This discrepancy raises questions about the standard interpretation of BOLD signal changes in relation to neuronal activity. Specifically, we identified at least two distinct modes of hemodynamic response, which indicate a separation between vascular signals and the underlying metabolic activity.
Press release: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109902
Nature Neuroscience paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02132-9
