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Imaging brain function in humans at 7 Tesla
Author(s) -
Yacoub Essa,
Shmuel Amir,
Pfeuffer Josef,
Van De Moortele PierreFrancois,
Adriany Gregor,
Andersen Peter,
Vaughan J. Thomas,
Merkle Hellmut,
Ugurbil Kamil,
Hu Xiaoping
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.1080
Subject(s) - echo planar imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance , functional magnetic resonance imaging , neuroimaging , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear medicine , neuroscience , physics , computer science , psychology , medicine , radiology
Abstract This article describes experimental studies performed to demonstrate the feasibility of BOLD fMRI using echo‐planar imaging (EPI) at 7 T and to characterize the BOLD response in humans at this ultrahigh magnetic field. Visual stimulation studies were performed in normal subjects using high‐resolution multishot EPI sequences. Changes in R * 2arising from visual stimulation were experimentally determined using fMRI measurements obtained at multiple echo times. The results obtained at 7 T were compared to those at 4 T. Experimental data indicate that fMRI can be reliably performed at 7 T and that at this field strength both the sensitivity and spatial specificity of the BOLD response are increased. This study suggests that ultrahigh field MR systems are advantageous for functional mapping in humans. Magn Reson Med 45:588–594, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.