The Pulsing Brain: Part II
Andrea Lecchini-Visintini, Emma M. L. Chung, Samantha Holdsworth, Jatinder S. Minhas, Stephen J. Payne

Abstract
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Taxonomy
TopicsHereditary Neurological Disorders
This issue continues the exploration of research on ‘the pulsing brain’, with contributions stemming from a Royal Society Theo Murphy scientific meeting held in June 2024 in Brighton, UK.
This part II issue reflects a peak development phase of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, which have seen tremendous advancements in recent years. There is also an emerging focus on the circulation of neurofluids—blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluids (ISF)—and on the role of pulsation in driving their movement. This growing interest is motivated by recent fundamental scientific insights, frequently referenced throughout the issue, into the role of neurofluid circulation in brain physiology.
The contributions start with Lecchini-Visintini et al. [1] who, bringing together an interdisciplinary group of authors, offer a comprehensive review of the key areas covered in the special issues: MRI, ultrasound medical diagnostics and mathematical modelling of biological tissues and fluids.
Progress in amplified MRI (aMRI) is reviewed by Kumar et al. [2], who present a focused analysis of the methodology and applications of aMRI in capturing brain tissue motion. Neher et al. [3] utilize aMRI acquisition to generate new observations on hippocampal perfusion mechanics, providing insights into pathologies affecting this structure. Wright et al. [4] present an aMRI-based study illustrating changes in intracranial tissue and neurofluids dynamics under resting and exercise conditions.
In the study of fluid motion using four-dimensional (4D) Flow MRI, Dempsey et al. [5] investigate intracranial cardiac pulse wave velocity, providing new insights into the assessment of brain physiology. El Ahmar et al. [6] explore the integration of 4D Flow MRI acquisition with physics-informed image analysis to evaluate intracranial stenotic vessel segments.
Jansen et al. [7] present new developments in phase-sensitive diffusion tensor MRI for acquiring and reconstructing ultra-slow neurofluids’ flow in brain parenchyma.
Using DENSE MRI, McGarry et al. [8] illustrate the integration of DENSE MRI acquisition with patient-specific poroelastic computational models to study the driving forces behind ISF flow. Van der Plas et al. [9] explore the feasibility of using DENSE MRI to map brain motion in a paediatric cohort. Van der Voort et al. [10] conduct a simulation study investigating the robustness of DENSE MRI for assessing CSF dynamics.
In more mathematical modelling oriented contributions, Vandenbulcke et al. [11] present a preliminary study on integrating aMRI acquisition with computational fluid dynamics simulations of CSF flow. Koch and Mardal [12] propose a modelling framework that enables computational simulations of neurofluid flow in the brain parenchyma, providing insights into the roles of pulsation and filtration.
Together, parts I and II of the theme issue provide a comprehensive overview of techniques and recent developments aimed at advancing our understanding of intracranial pulsing dynamics. These issues are expected to foster future advancements, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches and further progress in physiology, disease progression, diagnostics and patient care.
The reference list from the paper itself. Each links out to its DOI / PubMed record.
- 1Lecchini-Visintini A et al. 2025 The pulsing brain: state of the art and an interdisciplinary perspective. Interface Focus 15, 20240058. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0058) · doi ↗
- 2Kumar H et al. 2025 Dynamic visualization of brain pulsations using amplified MRI: methodology and applications. Interface Focus 15, 20240049. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0049) · doi ↗
- 3Neher CM, Triolo E, Rezay Araghi F, Khegai O, Balchandani P, Mc Garry M, Kurt M. 2025 Perfusion–mechanics coupling of the hippocampus. Interface Focus 15, 20240051. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0051) · doi ↗
- 4Wright JS et al. 2025 Exercise modulates brain pulsatility: insights from q-a MRI and MRI-based flow methods. Interface Focus 15, 20240043. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0043) · doi ↗
- 5Dempsey S, Safaei S, Holdsworth SJ, Maso Talou GD. 2025 Intracranial pulse wave velocity using 4D flow MRI: method comparison and covariate analysis. Interface Focus 15, 20240036. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0036) · doi ↗
- 6El Ahmar A, Schnell S, Ansari SA, Abdalla RN, Vali A, Aristova M, Markl M, Winter P, Marlevi D. 2025 Non-invasive quantification of pressure drops in stenotic intracranial vessels: using deep learning-enhanced 4D flow MRI to characterize the regional haemodynamics of the pulsing brain. Interface Focus 15, 20240040. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0040) · doi ↗
- 7Heukensfeldt Jansen I et al. 2025 Simultaneous coherent–incoherent motion imaging in brain parenchyma. Interface Focus 15, 20240041. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0041) · doi ↗
- 8Mc Garry M, Sowinski D, Tan L, Weaver J, Zwanenburg JJM, Paulsen K. 2025 In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of the interstitial pressure gradients (pg MRI) using a pulsatile poroelastic computational model. Interface Focus 15, 20240044. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0044) · doi ↗
