Patterns of Spontaneous Brain Activity in ALS

By detecting spontaneous low-frequency fluctuations (LFF) of blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) signals, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI) measurements are believed to reflect spontaneous cerebral neural activity. 

Differences in the spatial patterns of ALFF.

(A) ALFF differences between ALS and control groups without GM correction. There were significant decreased ALFF in visual cortex, fusiform gyrus and right postcentral gyrus, as well as increased ALFF in left middle frontal lobe. (B) ALFF differences between ALS and control groups with GM correction. There were significant decreased ALFF in visual cortex, fusiform gyrus and right postcentral gyrus, as well as increased ALFF in left middle frontal lobe and right inferior frontal gyrus. There were some slight changes after GM correction. For instance, after GM correction, the increased intrinsic brain activities in right inferior frontal gyrus reached significant level (marked by red arrow). Green indicates that ALS patients had decreased ALFF compared with the controls and the red indicates the opposite. The statistical threshold was set at voxel-wise t>3.32 (P<0.001) and cluster level of p<0.05 corrected by FWE.