Abstract #2831

Dechent P, Holz P, Baudewig J, Morawetz C, Lange C, Weniger G, Irle E

fMRI of the human amygdala is of great interest for scientists in the fields of psychiatry and psychology. However, this region is especially vulnerable to susceptibility artefacts. In the present study we tested some suggested simple modifications of a standard gradient-echo EPI-sequence at 3 Tesla with special emphasis on raw image quality and activation of the amygdala in response to emotional face stimuli. We found that a combined reduction of TE from 36ms to 27ms and section thickness from 4mm to 2mm is sufficient to record reliable activation of the amygdala.