Functional MRI in human subjects with gradient‐echo and spin‐echo EPI at 9.4 T

The increased signal‐to‐noise ratio and blood oxygen level dependent signal at ultra‐high field can only help to boost the resolution in functional MRI studies if the spatial specificity of the activation signal is improved. At a field strength of 9.4 T, both gradient‐echo and spin‐echo based echo‐planar imaging were implemented and applied to investigate the specificity of human functional MRI. A finger tapping paradigm was used to acquire functional MRI data with scan parameters similar to standard neuroscientific applications.

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