PROJECT SUMMARY Ultra high field neuroimaging in humans enables unprecedented resolutions that enable, for the first time, the non invasive investigation of directional information processing in vivo. These advances result from the ability of high resolutions to uncover layer specific (feedforward, feedback) activation patterns. These tools however are not validated in translational models that mimic human brain function. The reason for that is primarily due to our current inability to obtain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals at resolutions high enough to resolve layer specific responses in the non human primate. This project aims at developing novel and innovative radiofrequency hardware and using it at the ultra high field strength of 10.5 Tesla to directly test how well whole brain directional connectivity estimates from fMRI correspond with ground truth tract tracing experiments. This development and validation can directly aid us in translating findings from the animal model into future studies of the mesoscopic circuit effects of human mental illness.

PROJECT NARRATIVE Translational models for understanding human brain function in health a disease need translational tools that bridge the modality gap between many existing invasive and noninvasive techniques. \/\/hole brain directional functional connectivity as obtained from layer specific functional magnetic resonance imaging is such a tool gaining increased versatility in human research. Here we develop, validate and apply the required tools to perform these measurements non invasively in the non human primate model at unprecedented magnetic field strength.