Echo-Planar-Imaging is widely used for fMRI, but generates a high level of acoustic noise This could potentially affect activation power, especially for auditory experiments. One established way to reduce acoustic noise is to use a sinusoidal readout gradient combined with a constant phase-encoding gradient. However, this data-sampling scheme is only suitable for lower acceleration factors. This study investigates an alternative EPI sampling scheme with similar acoustic-noise properties that can be used with high acceleration factors in both phase-encoding and slice-encoding directions. Acoustic noise is further reduced by using readout segmentation to reduce the readout gradient amplitude and slew rate.
This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.