Abstract #2051
Evaluation of 2D multiband EPI imaging for high resolution, whole brain fMRI studies at 3T: sensitivity and slice leakage artifacts
Nick Todd 1 , Steen Moeller 2 , Edward J. Auerbach 2 , Essa Yacoub 2 , Guillaume Flandin 1 , and Nikolaus Weiskopf 1
1
Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging,
University College London, London, United Kingdom,
2
Center
for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of
Minnesota, Minnesota, United States
This study evaluates a 2D multiband EPI sequence for
1.5mm high resolution, whole brain fMRI applications at
3T in terms of BOLD sensitivity and possible false
activation due to signal leakage between the
simultaneously excited slices. Ten healthy volunteers
were imaged performing a visual/motor task under a 4 x 2
within-subject factorial design that considered
multiband factors 1, 2, 4, and 6 (all with factor 2
in-plane GRAPPA), and reconstruction methods
Slice-GRAPPA and Split Slice-GRAPPA. Results show clear
gains in BOLD sensitivity for multiband factors 2, 4,
and 6, manifested as a greater number of total voxels
activated and higher maximum t-score values. However,
signal from highly activated clusters was leaking into
adjacent simultaneously excited slices and causing false
positive activation at known alias locations. The effect
was strongest for multiband factors 4 and 6
reconstructed with Slice-GRAPPA, but was greatly reduced
using the Split Slice-GRAPPA approach.
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