Magnetic resonance with stimulation

A method of enhancing contrast in functional magnetic resonance imaging by increasing blood oxygen level dependent response to a stimulus, the method comprising:

• (a) administering a drug that enhances contrast by affecting intracerebral vasculature to a subject, in a dosage selected to minimize its effect on a central nervous system;
• (b) applying a functional magnetic resonance imaging sequence to the subject while the drug is affecting intracerebral vasculature;
• (c) stimulating the subject while the drug is affecting intracerebral vasculature;
• and
• (d) processing data obtained during the functional magnetic resonance sequence to evaluate blood oxygen level dependent responses to the stimulus while the drug is affecting intracerebral vasculature.

A method of magnetic resonance imaging to measure blood oxygen level dependent responses of a subject to light having at least two wavelengths:

• (a) administering about 2.5 mg of d-amphetamine to the subject;
• (b) applying a functional magnetic resonance imaging sequence to the subject;
• (a) exposing the subject to photic stimulation using red and blue light during the functional magnetic resonance imaging sequence;
• and
• (d) processing data obtained during the functional magnetic resonance sequence to evaluate blood oxygen level dependent responses of the subject to the red and blue light.