Unveiling the Hidden Power of White Matter in the Brain

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Vanderbilt University has used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect significant brain activity in white matter, challenging the conventional focus on gray matter. The study observed increased blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signals in white matter when subjects performed tasks, suggesting the potential importance of white matter in understanding various brain disorders. The researchers aim to further investigate these white matter signals and their biological basis, as well as their implications for brain function and connectivity.