Short Echo-Time 3D-TSE with and Without VASO Preparation for Functional MRI

Paul Summers¹, Armando Bauleo¹, Fabiola Cretti², Fausta Lui¹, Carlo Adolfo Porro¹

We examined short-echo time, 3D turbo-spin echo (TSE) sequences with and without blood-signal nulling for functional contrast that may that compete with vascular space occupancy (VASO) effects. Subjects performed a blocked, self-paced left-hand finger tapping task during acquisition of the images. Functional responses in nearly identical spatial locations were seen that correlated negatively with task performance in the blood.nulled case and positively otherwise. These preliminary results suggest that short echo time, 3D TSE is sensitive to functional signal changes, but do not distinguish between possible sources such as VASO; BOLD; SEEP or inflow in the absence of blood nulling.