On the Detection of Dendritic Currents Using FunctionalMagnetic resonance Imaging

Abstract

The currents associated with neuronal activity generate their own magnetic fields which potentially cause a measurable phase change in a magnetic resonance (MR) signal. The feasibility of directly measuring neuronal currents is still under debate. In this paper we model individual dendrites as magnetic current dipoles on a variable lattice structure in order to calculate the magnetic fields and phase shifts generated by active neuronal tissue. Our results show the field produced by an ensemble of simultaneously active dendrites may produce effects measurable using current MRI technology.