Development of Layer Specific FMRI for Clinical Scanners

总结 层特异性功能磁共振成像是一种新的和令人兴奋的工具，探测中尺度脑网络非侵入性， 而不需要诸如电极植入或共聚焦的侵入性外科手术 显微镜最近的工作表明，层特异性功能磁共振成像可以识别这两个 柱状以及网络的层特定结构。而层特异性功能磁共振成像领域 虽然目前的MRI扫描仪以“超高”场MRI扫描仪（7T及以上）为主，但仍极具挑战性 由于3T扫描仪的信噪比（SNR）降低，因此无法在3T扫描仪中实现这些结果。的 对超高场扫描仪的需求源于对层的极小体素的要求 特定的功能磁共振成像，这转化为SNR的急剧损失。 这种对超高场扫描仪的需求意味着，大部分扫描必须在小型 动物和人类在这一领域的工作仅限于少数选定的机构。这个目标 该提案的目的是开发所需的技术，使层特异性功能磁共振成像在3T扫描仪上可行， 在大多数研究机构中，我们提出的策略是提高信噪比效率， 通过使用缩小的视野、3D读出和新的正片，减少扫描时间 基于速度选择脉冲采集动脉血的血管造影成像方法 体积加权图像更快。同时，我们亦会致力减低 通过有效的回波校正技术进行测量。

Summary Layer Specific FMRI is a new and exciting tool to probe mesoscale brain networks non-invasively, without the need for invasive surgical procedures, such as electrode implantation, or confocal microscopy. Recent work has demonstrated the Layer Specific FMRI can identify both the columnar, as well as layer specific structure of a network. While the field of Layer Specific FMRI is dominated by “ultra-high” field MRI scanners (7T and above), it is still extremely challenging to achieve those results in 3T scanners because of their reduced signal:noise ratio (SNR). The need for ultra-high field scanners stems from the requirement of extremely small voxels for layer specific FMRI, which translates into a dramatic loss of SNR. This need for ultra high field scanners means that much of it has to be carried out on small animals, and human work in this area is limited to a few select institutions. The goal of this proposal is to develop the technology needed to make layer specific FMRI feasible at 3T scanners, common in most research institutions. Our proposed strategy is to improve SNR efficiency and reduce scan time by using a reduced field of view, 3D read-out in tandem with a new positive vascular contrast imaging method based on Velocity Selective pulses to collect arterial blood volume weighted images much faster. At the same time, we will also aim to reduce the noise of the measurement by an efficient echo correction technique.