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Quiet and distortion‐free, whole brain BOLD fMRI using T 2 ‐prepared RUFIS
Author(s) -
Solana Ana Beatriz,
Menini Anne,
Sacolick Laura I.,
Hehn Nicolas,
Wiesinger Florian
Publication year - 2016
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.25658
Subject(s) - nuclear magnetic resonance , quiet , distortion (music) , functional magnetic resonance imaging , magnetic resonance imaging , physics , psychology , medicine , neuroscience , radiology , amplifier , quantum mechanics , optoelectronics , cmos
Purpose To develop and evaluate a novel MR method that addresses some of the most eminent technical challenges of current BOLD‐based fMRI in terms of 1) acoustic noise and 2) geometric distortions and signal dropouts. Methods A BOLD‐sensitive fMRI pulse sequence was designed that first generates T 2 ‐weighted magnetization (using a T 2 preparation module) and subsequently undergoes three‐dimensional (3D) radial encoding using a rotating ultrafast imaging sequence (RUFIS). The method was tested on healthy volunteers at 3T with motor, visual, and auditory tasks, and compared relative to standard gradient and spin echo planar imaging (EPI) methods. Results In combination with parallel imaging the method achieves efficient and robust 3D whole brain coverage (3 mm isotropic resolution in 2.65 s scan time). Compared with standard EPI‐based fMRI, the method demonstrated 1) T 2 ‐weighted imaging clean of geometrical distortions and signal dropout, 2) an acoustic noise reduction of ∼40 dB(A), and 3) a consistent BOLD response that is less sensitive (∼1.3% BOLD change) but spatially more specific. Conclusion T 2 ‐prepared RUFIS provides quiet and distortion‐free whole brain BOLD fMRI with minimal demands on the gradient performance. In particular, auditory fMRI and/or studies involving brain regions near air–tissue interfaces are expected to greatly benefit from the proposed method, especially if performed at ultrahigh field strengths. Magn Reson Med 75:1402–1412, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.