Balanced SSFP (bSSFP) can be used as an alternative to gradient-echo (GE)-EPI for BOLD fMRI when image distortions and signal drop-outs are severe at high field. However, on animal systems, 3D-bSSFP acquisitions have low temporal resolution due to limited acceleration options and single slice offers insufficient coverage. Here, we perform multi-slice bSSFP in a pseudo-steady-state and show that non-distorted BOLD fMRI activation maps can be obtained, with comparable performance to GE-EPI. Future work will focus on resting-state fMRI using bSSFP and on the exploration of bSSFP BOLD contrast mechanisms at 14 Tesla.
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