Real-Time Rejection of Gradient and Pulse Related Artefact (GRA and PRA) from Electroencephalographic Signals Recorded During Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI)

Yves Leclercq¹, Andre Luxen¹, Evelyne Balteau¹, Pierre Maquet¹, Christophe Phillips¹

Simultaneous EEG and fMRI acquisition offer new possibilities to study brain dynamics. Though EEG signal get polluted by 2 artefacts, related to the MR scanner (gradient related artifact, GRA) and to the heart beat (pulse related artifact, PRA). GRA is easily dealt with but not PRA. We recently introduced a constrained ICA (cICA) that outperforms other current methods in rejecting PRA. Here we introduce an algorithm also based on cICA to correct the PRA in real time, allowing online monitoring and neuro-feedback during fMRI scanning. The approach was tested on a patient resting awake, eyes closed in the scanner.