This specification describes systems and methods for using Zero Echo Time (ZTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences for applications to functional MRI (fMRI). In some examples, a system for functional magnetic resonance imaging includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner and a control console implemented on at least one processor. The control console is configured for executing, using the MRI scanner, a zero echo time (ZTE) pulse sequence; acquiring, using the MRI scanner, magnetic resonance data in response to the ZTE pulse sequence; and constructing at least one MRI image using the magnetic resonance data and measuring tissue oxygenation (PtO2)-related T1 changes as a proxy of neural activity changes of a subject using the at least one MRI image.