Abstract #3295

Behzadi Y, Restom K, Perthen J, Liu T

Perfusion-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with arterial spin labeling (ASL) has the potential to provide a more accurate reflection of neural activity than the more commonly used blood oxygenation level dependent signal. However, ASL techniques tend to be less sensitive due to inherently low signal-to-noise and have been of limited use in cognitive fMRI studies, in which activations tend to be less robust and more variable than primary sensory studies. This study examines the effect of background suppresion and physiological noise correction on the sensitivity of perfusion fMRI both in the visual cortex and the hippocampus.