Asymmetric spin echo multi-echo echo planar imaging (ASEME-EPI) sequence for pre-clinical high-field fMRI.

ABSTRACT: In functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast, gradient-recalled echo (GRE) acquisitions offer high sensitivity but suffer from susceptibility-induced signal loss and lack specificity to microvasculature. In contrast, spin echo (SE) acquisitions provide improved specificity at the cost of reduced sensitivity. This study introduces Asymmetric Spin Echo Multi-Echo Echo Planar Imaging (ASEME-EPI), a technique designed to combine the benefits of both GRE and SE for high-field preclinical fMRI. ASEME-EPI employs a spin echo readout followed by two asymmetric spin echo (ASE) GRE readouts, providing an initial T2-weighted SE image and subsequent T2*-weighted ASE images. A feasibility study for the technique was implemented on a 9.4 T pre-clini

SUBMITTER: Johnson KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11482890 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature