diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3a82d99c3c..08878d2708 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,11 +16,12 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [unreleased]
 
-## Added
+### Added
 
 - `Robustfov` feature in `FSL-BET` to crop images ensuring removal of neck regions that may appear in the skull-stripped images. 
+- Ability to throttle nodes, estimating all available memory when threading
 
-## Changed
+### Changed
 
 - Moved autoversioning from CI to pre-commit
 - Updated `FSL-BET` config to default `-mask-boolean` flag as on, and removed all removed `mask-boolean` keys from configs.
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [1.8.6] - 2024-01-15
 
-## Added
+### Added
 
 - Some automatic handling of user-provided BIDSy atlas names.
 - `sig_imports` static method decorator for `Function` nodes, to accommodate type hinting in signatures of `Function` node functions.
diff --git a/CPAC/generate_motion_statistics/generate_motion_statistics.py b/CPAC/generate_motion_statistics/generate_motion_statistics.py
index f8400804ef..8d918dd07d 100644
--- a/CPAC/generate_motion_statistics/generate_motion_statistics.py
+++ b/CPAC/generate_motion_statistics/generate_motion_statistics.py
@@ -207,7 +207,8 @@ def motion_power_statistics(name='motion_stats',
                         name='cal_DVARS',
                         mem_gb=0.4,
                         mem_x=(739971956005215 / 151115727451828646838272,
-                               'in_file'))
+                               'in_file'),
+                        throttle=True)
 
     cal_DVARS_strip = pe.Node(Function(input_names=['file_1D'],
                                        output_names=['out_file', 'DVARS_val'],
diff --git a/CPAC/nuisance/nuisance.py b/CPAC/nuisance/nuisance.py
index 97b5186f1a..c19fd26080 100644
--- a/CPAC/nuisance/nuisance.py
+++ b/CPAC/nuisance/nuisance.py
@@ -1281,8 +1281,9 @@ def create_regressor_workflow(nuisance_selectors,
                                         output_names=['cosfiltered_img'],
                                         function=cosine_filter,
                                         imports=cosfilter_imports),
-                            name='{}_cosine_filter'.format(regressor_type),
-                            mem_gb=8.0)
+                            name=f'{regressor_type}_cosine_filter',
+                            mem_gb=8.0,
+                            throttle=True)
                         nuisance_wf.connect(
                             summary_filter_input[0], summary_filter_input[1],
                             cosfilter_node, 'input_image_path'
diff --git a/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/engine.py b/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/engine.py
index 899f69bbcf..31092e5269 100644
--- a/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/engine.py
+++ b/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/engine.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 import re
 from copy import deepcopy
 from inspect import Parameter, Signature, signature
+from typing import ClassVar, Optional, Union
 from nibabel import load
 from nipype.interfaces.utility import Function
 from nipype.pipeline import engine as pe
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@
 from traits.trait_base import Undefined
 from traits.trait_handlers import TraitListObject
 from CPAC.utils.monitoring.custom_logging import getLogger
+from CPAC.utils.typing import DICT
 
 # set global default mem_gb
 DEFAULT_MEM_GB = 2.0
@@ -153,7 +155,13 @@ class Node(pe.Node):
         {"    >>> realign.inputs.in_files = 'functional.nii'"}
     )
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, mem_gb=DEFAULT_MEM_GB, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            *args,
+            mem_gb: Optional[float] = DEFAULT_MEM_GB,
+            throttle: Optional[bool] = False,
+            **kwargs
+        ) -> None:
         # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
         from CPAC.pipeline.random_state import random_seed
         super().__init__(*args, mem_gb=mem_gb, **kwargs)
@@ -162,6 +170,8 @@ def __init__(self, *args, mem_gb=DEFAULT_MEM_GB, **kwargs):
         self.seed_applied = False
         self.input_data_shape = Undefined
         self._debug = False
+        if throttle:
+            self.throttle = True
         self.verbose_logger = None
         self._mem_x = {}
         if 'mem_x' in kwargs and isinstance(
@@ -195,7 +205,8 @@ def __init__(self, *args, mem_gb=DEFAULT_MEM_GB, **kwargs):
             Parameter('mem_gb', Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
                       default=DEFAULT_MEM_GB)
         )[1] for p in orig_sig_params[:-1]] + [
-            Parameter('mem_x', Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY),
+            Parameter('mem_x', Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY, default=None),
+            Parameter("throttle", Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY, default=False),
             orig_sig_params[-1][1]
         ])
 
@@ -232,7 +243,11 @@ def __init__(self, *args, mem_gb=DEFAULT_MEM_GB, **kwargs):
             ``mode`` can be any one of
             * 'xyzt' (spatial * temporal) (default if not specified)
             * 'xyz' (spatial)
-            * 't' (temporal)''']))  # noqa: E501  # pylint: disable=line-too-long
+            * 't' (temporal)
+
+        throttle : bool, optional
+            Assume this Node will use all available memory if no observation run is
+            provided.''']))  # noqa: E501  # pylint: disable=line-too-long
 
     def _add_flags(self, flags):
         r'''
@@ -440,12 +455,21 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         if not self.name.endswith('_'):
             self.name = f'{self.name}_'
 
-    __init__.__signature__ = Signature(parameters=[
-        p[1] if p[0] != 'mem_gb' else (
-            'mem_gb',
-            Parameter('mem_gb', Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
-                      default=DEFAULT_MEM_GB)
-        )[1] for p in signature(pe.Node).parameters.items()])
+    _parameters: ClassVar[DICT[str, Parameter]] = {}
+    _custom_params: ClassVar[DICT[str, Union[bool, float]]] = {
+        "mem_gb": DEFAULT_MEM_GB,
+        "throttle": False,
+    }
+    for param, default in _custom_params.items():
+        for p in signature(pe.Node).parameters.items():
+            if p[0] in _custom_params:
+                _parameters[p[0]] = Parameter(
+                    param, Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD, default=default
+                )
+            else:
+                _parameters[p[0]] = p[1]
+    __init__.__signature__ = Signature(parameters=list(_parameters.values()))
+    del _custom_params, _parameters
 
 
 class Workflow(pe.Workflow):
diff --git a/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/plugins/cpac_nipype_custom.py b/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/plugins/cpac_nipype_custom.py
index a843931783..e96f2d0e3a 100644
--- a/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/plugins/cpac_nipype_custom.py
+++ b/CPAC/pipeline/nipype_pipeline_engine/plugins/cpac_nipype_custom.py
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
 from CPAC.utils.monitoring import log_nodes_cb
 
 
+OVERHEAD_MEMORY_ESTIMATE: float = 1  # estimate of C-PAC + Nipype overhead (GB)
+
+
 def get_peak_usage():
     """Function to return peak usage in GB.
 
@@ -189,17 +192,19 @@ def _prerun_check(self, graph):
         tasks_num_th = []
         overrun_message_mem = None
         overrun_message_th = None
-        # estimate of C-PAC + Nipype overhead (GB):
-        overhead_memory_estimate = 1
         for node in graph.nodes():
             if hasattr(self, 'runtime'):
                 self._override_memory_estimate(node)
+            elif hasattr(node, "throttle"):
+                # for a throttled node without an observation run,
+                # assume all available memory will be needed
+                node._mem_gb = self.memory_gb - OVERHEAD_MEMORY_ESTIMATE
             try:
                 node_memory_estimate = node.mem_gb
             except FileNotFoundError:
                 # pylint: disable=protected-access
                 node_memory_estimate = node._apply_mem_x(UNDEFINED_SIZE)
-            node_memory_estimate += overhead_memory_estimate
+            node_memory_estimate += OVERHEAD_MEMORY_ESTIMATE
             if node_memory_estimate > self.memory_gb:
                 tasks_mem_gb.append((node.name, node_memory_estimate))
             if node.n_procs > self.processors:
diff --git a/CPAC/pipeline/test/test_nipype_pipeline_engine.py b/CPAC/pipeline/test/test_nipype_pipeline_engine.py
index f722a839cb..ef0efd282f 100644
--- a/CPAC/pipeline/test/test_nipype_pipeline_engine.py
+++ b/CPAC/pipeline/test/test_nipype_pipeline_engine.py
@@ -1,11 +1,35 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2021-2024  C-PAC Developers
+
+# This file is part of C-PAC.
+
+# C-PAC is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
+# the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the
+# Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your
+# option) any later version.
+
+# C-PAC is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+# ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public
+# License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+# License along with C-PAC. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+"""Tests for C-PAC customizations to nipype.pipeline.engine."""
 import os
 import pytest
 from nibabel.testing import data_path
-from nipype import Function
 from nipype.interfaces.utility import IdentityInterface
+from nipype.utils.profiler import get_system_total_memory_gb
 from traits.trait_base import Undefined
+
+from CPAC.nuisance.utils.compcor import cosine_filter
 from CPAC.pipeline.nipype_pipeline_engine import (
     DEFAULT_MEM_GB, get_data_size, Node, MapNode, Workflow)
+from CPAC.pipeline.nipype_pipeline_engine.plugins import (
+    LegacyMultiProcPlugin,
+    MultiProcPlugin,
+)
+from CPAC.utils.interfaces.function import Function
 
 
 def get_sample_data(filepath):
@@ -35,6 +59,32 @@ def test_Node():  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     assert res.outputs.f_x == 4
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("plugin", [LegacyMultiProcPlugin, MultiProcPlugin])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("throttle", [True, False])
+def test_throttle(plugin: type, throttle: bool) -> None:
+    """Test Node throttling."""
+    small_estimate = 0.0003
+    cosfilter_node = Node(
+        Function(
+            input_names=["input_image_path", "timestep"],
+            output_names=["cosfiltered_img"],
+            function=cosine_filter,
+            as_module=True,
+        ),
+        name="aCompCor_cosine_filter",
+        mem_gb=small_estimate,
+        throttle=throttle,
+    )
+    wf = Workflow(name="aCompCor_cosine_filter_wf")
+    wf.add_nodes([cosfilter_node])
+    plugin(plugin_args={"raise_insufficient": False})._prerun_check(wf._graph)
+    if throttle:
+        assert cosfilter_node.mem_gb > small_estimate
+        assert cosfilter_node.mem_gb <= get_system_total_memory_gb()
+    else:
+        assert cosfilter_node.mem_gb == small_estimate
+
+
 def test_Workflow(tmpdir):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     example_filepath = os.path.join(data_path, 'example4d.nii.gz')
     pass_in_filepath = IdentityInterface(fields=['x'])
diff --git a/CPAC/qc/xcp.py b/CPAC/qc/xcp.py
index 3104256c02..0f6494a69f 100644
--- a/CPAC/qc/xcp.py
+++ b/CPAC/qc/xcp.py
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ def _connect_motion(wf, nodes, strat_pool, qc_file, pipe_num):
                         name=f'cal_DVARS_{pipe_num}',
                         mem_gb=0.4,
                         mem_x=(739971956005215 / 151115727451828646838272,
-                               'in_file'))
+                               'in_file'),
+                        throttle=True)
     cal_DVARS_strip = pe.Node(Function(input_names=['file_1D'],
                                        output_names=['out_file'],
                                        function=DVARS_strip_t0,
diff --git a/CPAC/registration/registration.py b/CPAC/registration/registration.py
index cd3e69444a..8658aae219 100644
--- a/CPAC/registration/registration.py
+++ b/CPAC/registration/registration.py
@@ -1209,7 +1209,8 @@ def create_wf_calculate_ants_warp(
                                         imports=reg_imports),
                 name='calc_ants_warp',
                 mem_gb=2.8,
-                mem_x=(2e-7, 'moving_brain', 'xyz'))
+                mem_x=(2e-7, 'moving_brain', 'xyz'),
+                throttle=True)
 
     calculate_ants_warp.interface.num_threads = num_threads
 
diff --git a/CPAC/utils/typing.py b/CPAC/utils/typing.py
index a838a7c76b..cfb6dd0612 100644
--- a/CPAC/utils/typing.py
+++ b/CPAC/utils/typing.py
@@ -15,39 +15,48 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
 # License along with C-PAC. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 """
-Helpers and aliases for handling typing in main and variant Python versions
+Helpers and aliases for handling typing in main and variant Python versions.
 
 Once all variants (see {DOCS_URL_PREFIX}/user/versions#variants)
 run Python ≥ 3.10, these global variables can be replaced with the
 current preferred syntax.
 """
+from pathlib import Path
 import sys
 from typing import Union
+
 from CPAC.utils.docs import DOCS_URL_PREFIX
 
 # Set the version-specific documentation URL in the module docstring:
-__doc__ = __doc__.replace(r'{DOCS_URL_PREFIX}', DOCS_URL_PREFIX)
+__doc__ = __doc__.replace(r"{DOCS_URL_PREFIX}", DOCS_URL_PREFIX)  # noqa: A001
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
-    from typing import Literal
-    LITERAL = Literal
+    from typing import Literal as LITERAL
 else:
-    from typing_extensions import Literal
-    LITERAL = Literal
+    from typing_extensions import Literal as LITERAL
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 9):
-    from collections.abc import Iterable
-    LIST = list
+    from builtins import dict as DICT, list as LIST
+    from collections.abc import Iterable as ITERABLE
 else:
-    from typing import Iterable, List
-    LIST = List
+    from typing import Dict as DICT, Iterable as ITERABLE, List as LIST
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 10):
+    from builtins import tuple as TUPLE
+
     LIST_OR_STR = LIST[str] | str  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-    TUPLE = tuple
 else:
-    from typing import Tuple
+    from typing import Tuple as TUPLE
+
     LIST_OR_STR = Union[LIST[str], str]  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-    TUPLE = Tuple
-ITERABLE = Iterable
+
+PATHSTR = Union[Path, str]
 ConfigKeyType = Union[str, LIST[str]]
-__all__ = ['ConfigKeyType', 'ITERABLE', 'LIST', 'LIST_OR_STR', 'LITERAL',
-           'TUPLE']
+__all__ = [
+    "ConfigKeyType",
+    "DICT",
+    "ITERABLE",
+    "LIST",
+    "LIST_OR_STR",
+    "LITERAL",
+    "PATHSTR",
+    "TUPLE",
+]