Xiaoyu Sun1, Jianli Wang1,
Christopher W. Weitekamp1, Qing X. Yang1,2
1Radiology, Penn State University
College of Medcine, Hershey, PA, United States; 2Neurosurgery,
Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
Here
we present an olfactory fMRI data processing method that can significantly
improve the data processing quality when the patients respiration pattern is
not controlled and doesnt synchronize with olfactory stimulation paradigm.
As an example of implementation we present an olfactory fMRI examination
while the subjects respiration pattern is not regular. Our data demonstrates
that it is critical to consider the subjects respiratory patterns
modulation on the olfactory stimulation paradigm. The presented olfactory
fMRI data processing method can be used for various applications. In addition
to the example of real time respiration data, subjective response data (not
provided here) can also be convolved with odor delivery data for more
improved fMRI data processing. This experimental set-up will be useful in the
olfactory fMRI study of neuropsychiatric and neurologic patients that are not
cooperative or be able to follow the breathing instructions.