Zeller, Mario, Müller, Alexander, Gutberlet, Marcel, Nichols, Thomas E., Hahn, Dietbert, Köstler, Herbert and Bartsch, Andreas J. (2013) Boosting BOLD fMRI by K-Space density weighted echo planar imaging. PLoS One, Volume 8 (Number 9). Article number e74501. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074501

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Abstract

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become a powerful and influential method to non-invasively study neuronal brain activity. For this purpose, the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) effect is most widely used. T2* weighted echo planar imaging (EPI) is BOLD sensitive and the prevailing fMRI acquisition technique. Here, we present an alternative to its standard Cartesian recordings, i.e. k-space density weighted EPI, which is expected to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in fMRI data. Based on in vitro and in vivo pilot measurements, we show that fMRI by k-space density weighted EPI is feasible and that this new acquisition technique in fact boosted spatial and temporal SNR as well as the detection of local fMRI activations. Spatial resolution, spatial response function and echo time were identical for density weighted and conventional Cartesian EPI. The signal-to-noise ratio gain of density weighting can improve activation detection and has the potential to further increase the sensitivity of fMRI investigations.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QC Physics R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Statistics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Echo-planar imaging, Magnetic resonance imaging, Diagnostic imaging , Cerebral circulation -- Imaging
Journal or Publication Title:	PLoS One
Publisher:	Public Library of Science
ISSN:	1932-6203
Official Date:	10 September 2013
Dates:	Date Event 10 September 2013 Published
Volume:	Volume 8
Number:	Number 9
Page Range:	Article number e74501
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0074501
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg [University of Würzburg]
Grant number:	DFG KO 2938/3-1

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