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Simultaneous functional MRI acquisition of distributed brain regions with high temporal resolution using a 2D‐selective radiofrequency excitation
Author(s) -
Finsterbusch Jürgen
Publication year - 2015
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.25143
Subject(s) - temporal resolution , image resolution , computer science , neuroimaging , region of interest , functional magnetic resonance imaging , excitation , artificial intelligence , nuclear magnetic resonance , optics , neuroscience , physics , psychology , quantum mechanics
Purpose To perform simultaneous functional MRI of multiple, distributed brain regions at high temporal resolution using a 2D‐selective radiofrequency (2DRF) excitation. Methods A tailored 2DRF excitation is used to excite several, small regions‐of‐interest distributed in the brain. They are acquired in a single projection image with an appropriately chosen orientation such that the different regions‐of‐interest can be discriminated by their position in the projection plane. Thus, they are excited and acquired simultaneously with a temporal resolution comparable to that of a single‐slice measurement. The feasibility of this approach for functional neuroimaging (in‐plane resolution 2 × 2 mm 2 ) at high temporal resolution (80 ms) is demonstrated in healthy volunteers for regions‐of‐interest in the visual and motor system using checkerboard and finger tapping block‐design paradigms. Results Task‐related brain activation could be observed in both the visual and the motor system simultaneously with a high temporal resolution. For an onset shift of 240 ms for half of the checkerboard, a delay of the hemodynamic response in the corresponding hemisphere of the visual cortex could be detected. Conclusion Limiting the excited magnetization to the desired target regions with a 2DRF excitation reduces the imaging sampling requirements which can improve the temporal resolution significantly. Magn Reson Med 73:683–691, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.