Multi-Banded T2-Weighted fMRI with a Z-Encoding RF Coil Array for Whole Brain Coverage at 7T

Johannes Ritter¹, Pierre-Francois Van De Moortele¹, Steen Moeller¹, Eddie Auerbach¹, Kamil Ugurbil¹, Gregor Adriany¹

Due to significant B1 inhomogeneities at high fields it is challenging to achieve effective whole brain fMRI. However, it has recently been demonstrated at 7 T that B1-shim homogeneity, T2-weighted contrast and hence activation in different target volumes of the human brain can be improved significantly with a multi-region B1-shim Here we built upon this and present a new integrated approach, consisting of a novel multi banded sequence, a 3D B1 shim T/R coil array and large volume B1-shim. Only the combination of these components allow to effectively address SAR and B1-inhomogeneity challenges and enable whole head T2 weighted fMRI.