Methylene blue potentiates stimulus-evoked fMRI responses and cerebral oxygen consumption during normoxia and hypoxia

► Methylene blue (MB) has metabolic-enhancing and antioxidant properties. ► MB did not have significant effects on fMRI responses to hypercapnia. ► MB potentiated evoked fMRI changes to forepaw stimulation under normoxia. ► MB further potentiated fMRI changes under hypoxia relative to normoxia. ► These findings could help optimize treatments in diseases with mitochondrial dysfunction.