Towards Whole Brain T2-Weighted FMRI at Ultra-High Fields Using an Integrated Approach

Johannes Ritter¹, Pierre-Francois Van de Moortele¹, Gregor Adriany¹, Kamil Ugurbil¹

Ultra-High Magnetic Fields offer large advantages, including higher image SNR, higher functional contrast and increased spatial specificity (i.e. accuracy) for T2-weighted fMRI. Short transverse relaxation times, increased magnetic susceptibility effects, specific absorption rate and B1 inhomogeneities, however, can all undermine these advantages. Here we present an integrated approach consisting of a T2 weighted sequence that reduces SAR significantly (SPIF-T2), a large volume B1 shim to improve T2 contrast and a 16 channel or a 30 channel transceiver array coil that enable and improve RF shimming for large volumes of the human brain. Robust activation is demonstrated in both the visual and motor areas of the human brain.