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The impact of EPI voxel size on SNR and BOLD sensitivity in the anterior medio-temporal lobe: a comparative group study of deactivation of the Default Mode

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Abstract

Objectives

To quantify the gain in time-series SNR that can be achieved in the amygdala by reducing EPI voxel size, and to assess the extent to which this advantage is carried through to statistical significance in a group fMRI study, using a cognitive task to trigger task-independent deactivation of anterior medial temporal structures.

Materials and methods

Two groups of seven subjects were posed number-series tasks to induce deactivation of the Default Mode network. This is known from PET work to include the amygdala, which lies in a region of high magnetic field gradient. In 3 T imaging, one group was studied with high resolution EPI with 6 μl voxels, the other with lower resolution EPI with 17 μl voxels. Field maps were acquired to allow field gradients in relevant ROIs to be assessed.

Results

Time-series SNR was 45% higher in the amygdala in the high resolution EPI data than in the low resolution data. In activation results, whilst there was good agreement between other areas, the involvement of the amygdala could only be demonstrated in the high resolution data.

Conclusion

We find that reduction in signal dephasing afforded by high resolution EPI is realized as a substantial increase in SNR and BOLD sensitivity in group fMRI data. This has allowed the first demonstration of the involvement of the amygdala in the Default Mode in fMRI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MR Center of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettegasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Simon D. Robinson & Ewald Moser

  2. Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, Via delle Regole 101, 38060, Mattarello (TN), Italy

    Simon D. Robinson

  3. Brain Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Vienna, Austria

    Jürgen Pripfl & Herbert Bauer

  4. Center of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Medical University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 13, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Ewald Moser

  5. Department of Radiology, University and General Hospital, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Ewald Moser

  6. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, 10 Gates Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4238, USA

    Ewald Moser

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  1. Simon D. Robinson
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  2. Jürgen Pripfl
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  4. Ewald Moser
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Correspondence to Ewald Moser.

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Robinson, S.D., Pripfl, J., Bauer, H. et al. The impact of EPI voxel size on SNR and BOLD sensitivity in the anterior medio-temporal lobe: a comparative group study of deactivation of the Default Mode. Magn Reson Mater Phy 21, 279–290 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-008-0128-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-008-0128-0

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