Artifact reduction in simultaneous EEG and fMRI recordings

描述(由申请人提供)：了解人脑功能的神经基础需要了解信息处理的空间和时间方面的知识。功能磁共振成像(FMRI)和脑电(EEG)在空间和时间分辨率上代表着互补的脑成像技术；因此，fMRI和EEG的结合在检测大脑功能背后的感觉和认知过程的空间和时间动力学方面具有很大的前景。在同一时段获取fMRI和EEG数据的主要优势是，这两类数据反映了相同的神经过程。然而，在充分实现这种方法的好处之前，必须克服一些技术问题。特别是，在扫描仪中采集的脑电数据受到伪影的严重污染，这可能会显著降低数据的质量。这项提议汇集了一支强大的多学科研究团队，以解决与同时获取、验证和分析EEG和fMRI数据相关的重大技术问题。我们建议开发、测试和验证在3T时同时采集EEG-fMRI时减少伪影的新方法。为了实现这一目标，我们将：(1)使用计算机模拟来比较我们新的伪迹去除程序与当前程序的性能，(2)建立物理模型来在3T磁体中生成已知电流源，并使用它来验证和量化我们程序的有效性，以及(3)使用连续、平均和单次试验的脑电波来证明我们的程序可以成功地恢复与任务相关的大脑反应。所提出的研究将为最佳的EEG-fMRI记录和分析技术提供重要的新信息，从而帮助实现其在人脑研究中的全部潜力。我们的研究结果还将推动新方法的发展，以研究精神、神经和神经发育障碍的神经基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Understanding the neural basis of human brain function requires knowledge about the spatial and temporal aspects of information processing. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) represent complementary brain imaging techniques in terms of their spatial and temporal resolution; hence, combining fMRI and EEG holds great promise for examining the spatial and temporal dynamics of sensory and cognitive processes underlying brain function. The main advantage of acquiring fMRI and EEG data in the same session is that the two types of data reflect the same neural process. However, a number of technical problems must be overcome before the benefits of this approach can be fully realized. In particular, EEG data acquired in the scanner is heavily contaminated by artifacts which can significantly reduce the quality of the data. This proposal brings together a strong multidisciplinary research team to solve major technical problems related to the acquisition, validation and analysis of simultaneous EEG and fMRI data. We propose to develop, test and validate novel procedures for artifact reduction in simultaneous EEG-fMRI acquisition at 3T. To achieve this goal, we will: (1) use computer simulations to compare the performance of our new artifact removal procedures with current procedures, (2) build a physical phantom to generate known current sources in the 3T magnet, and use it to validate and quantify the effectiveness of our procedures, and (3) use continuous, averaged and single-trial EEGs to demonstrate that our procedures can successfully recover task-relevant brain responses. The proposed studies will contribute important new information about optimal EEG-fMRI recording and analysis techniques, thereby helping to realize their full potential in human brain research. Findings from our study will also propel the development of new approaches to investigate the neural bases of psychiatric, neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.