Sequences and contrasts for non-BOLD fMRI

Non-BOLD sequences are gaining traction at ultra-high field (UHF) due to their increased specificity and their closer relationship to physiological parameters such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), or rate of metabolic consumption of oxygen (CMRO2). In this chapter, we discuss challenges to and pitfalls of their implementations and discuss details regarding the interpretation of BOLD and non-BOLD sequences at UHF. We discuss the current state and directions of non-BOLD sequence development and outline potential solutions to overcome their current limitations. Finally, we present representative cases of using various non-BOLD fMRI sequences to study brain function in humans and animals.