Evaluation of Single-shot EPI with Sub-millimeter Resolution fMRI on the Next-Generation 7T brain scanner.

The newly developed “Impulse” head gradient (200 mT/m Gmax, 900 T/m/s) on the NexGen 7T scanner has been specifically designed to allow for high-resolution single-shot EPI with minimal distortions and blurring by minimizing echo spacing. In conjunction with the increased SNR and reduced g-factor noise afforded by the 96 channel receive array coil, mesoscale fMRI at 0.45mm and 0.6mm isotropic resolutions can be robustly achieved in human subjects.