In vivo functional brain mapping using ultra-high-field fMRI in awake common marmosets

Alessandro Zanini; Audrey Dureux; Azadeh Jafari; Kyle M Gilbert; Peter Zeman; Miranda Bellyou; Alex Li; Cheryl Vander Tuin; Stefan Everling

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102586

In vivo functional brain mapping using ultra-high-field fMRI in awake common marmosets

STAR Protoc. 2023 Dec 15;4(4):102586. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102586. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Authors

Alessandro Zanini¹, Audrey Dureux², Azadeh Jafari², Kyle M Gilbert³, Peter Zeman², Miranda Bellyou², Alex Li², Cheryl Vander Tuin⁴, Stefan Everling⁵

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: zanini.alessandro90@gmail.com.
² Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
³ Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
⁵ Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: severlin@uwo.ca.

Abstract

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is gaining attention in the field of cognitive neuroscience. The development of an effective protocol for fMRI data acquisition in awake marmosets is a key factor in developing reliable comparative studies. Here, we describe a protocol to obtain fMRI data in awake marmosets using auditory and visual stimulation. We describe steps for surgical and anesthesia procedures, MRI training, and positioning the marmosets within an MRI-compatible body restraint. We then detail fMRI scanning and preprocessing of functional images. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Jafari et al. (2023).¹.

Keywords: Behavior; Cognitive Neuroscience; Neuroscience.

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain Mapping
Callithrix* / physiology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
Wakefulness