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Abstract #0491

A Feasibility Study of Task-Based fMRI at 0.55 T

Parsa Razmara1, Takfarinas Medani1, Anand A. Joshi1, Majid Abbasi Sisara1, Ye Tian1, Sophia X. Cui2, Justin P. Haldar1, Krishna S. Nayak1, and Richard M. Leahy1
1University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 2Siemens Healthineers, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Low-Field MRI, fMRI Acquisition, Brain, Low-Field MRI, BOLD fMRI, echo planar imaging (EPI), fMRI (task based), fMRI (Analysis)

Motivation: 0.55T MRI offers advantages compared to conventional field strengths, including reduced susceptibility artifacts and better compatibility with simultaneous EEG recordings. However, reliable task-based fMRI at 0.55T has not been significantly demonstrated.

Goal(s): To establish a robust task-based fMRI protocol and analysis pipeline at 0.55T that achieves full brain coverage and results comparable to what is expected for activation extent and location.

Approach: We attempted fMRI at 0.55T by combining EPI acquisition with custom analysis techniques. Finger-tapping and visual tasks compared 5 and 10-minute runs to enhance activation detection.

Results: Significant activations demonstrating that high-quality task-based fMRI is achievable at 0.55T in single subjects.

Impact: This study demonstrates that reliable task-based fMRI is feasible on 0.55T scanners, potentially broadening functional neuroimaging access in clinical and research settings where high-field MRI is unavailable or impractical, supporting broader diagnostic and research applications.

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Keywords