Meeting Banner
Abstract #5238

Multi-slice balanced SSFP is an excellent alternative to GE-EPI for rodent fMRI at ultra-high field

Ileana Ozana Jelescu1, Olivier Reynaud1, Analina Raquel da Silva1, and Rolf Gruetter1

1Centre d'Imagerie Biomédicale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

Balanced SSFP (bSSFP) can be used as an alternative to gradient-echo (GE)-EPI for BOLD fMRI when image distortions and signal drop-outs are severe at high field. However, on animal systems, 3D-bSSFP acquisitions have low temporal resolution due to limited acceleration options and single slice offers insufficient coverage. Here, we perform multi-slice bSSFP in a pseudo-steady-state and show that non-distorted BOLD fMRI activation maps can be obtained, with comparable performance to GE-EPI. Future work will focus on resting-state fMRI using bSSFP and on the exploration of bSSFP BOLD contrast mechanisms at 14 Tesla.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here