Improved Resting-State Functional MRI Using Multi-Echo Echo-Planar Imaging on a Compact 3T MRI Scanner with High-Performance Gradients

• DOI: 10.3390/s23094329
• Publication Date: 2023-04-28T06:02:23Z
• Authors: Daehun Kang; Myung-Ho In; Hang Joon Jo; Maria A. Halverson; Nolan K. Meyer; Zaki Ahmed; Erin M. Gray; Radhika Madhavan; Thomas K. Foo; Brice Fernandez; David F. Black; Kirk M. Welker; Joshua D. Trzasko; John Huston; Matt A. Bernstein; Yunhong Shu
• Keywords: Echo (communications protocol); Blood-oxygen-level dependent; Communication noise; Echo time; Echo-planar imaging; Gradient echo; Temporal resolution; Functional Imaging

In blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)-based resting-state functional (RS-fMRI) studies, usage of multi-echo echo-planar-imaging (ME-EPI) is limited due to unacceptable late echo times when high spatial resolution used. Equipped with high-performance gradients, the compact 3T MRI system (C3T) enables a three-echo whole-brain ME-EPI protocol smaller than 2.5 mm isotropic voxel and shorter 1 s repetition time, as required in landmark fMRI studies. The performance was comprehensively evaluated signal variance reduction region-of-interest-, seed- independent-component-analysis-based connectivity analyses compared counterpart single-echo EPI shortest TR possible. Through combination, thermal noise level reduced. Functional connectivity, well intensity, are recovered medial orbital sulcus anterior transverse collateral ME-EPI. It demonstrated that provides superior sensitivity accuracy for detecting and/or brain networks comparison EPI. conclusion, gradient enabled high-spatial-temporal would be method choice RS-fMRI study on C3T.