Whole-brain functional mapping with isotropic MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the reliability and sensitivity of gradient-echo, isotropic multisection echo-planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for within-subject whole-brain mapping.


METHODS
Eight right-handed healthy volunteers underwent gradient-echo, echo-planar MR imaging while they performed a motor task on three occasions over 2-3 months. Ninety-six whole-brain volumes were acquired in 8 minutes 48 seconds. A rigorous statistical threshold for determining activation was set at P < .05 and was Bonferroni corrected for approximately 15,000 cortical voxels.


RESULTS
In all subjects, reproducible activation was demonstrated in multiple cortical areas and in the cerebellum specific to the motor system. Of the activated voxels, 75%-78% were confined to the motor areas during all sessions. No statistically significant difference was found in the proportion of activated voxels in any motor region (relative to the total number of activated voxels in the whole brain) across the three sessions. The centers of mass of the activated areas were within 2.5 resolution elements of the image across the three sessions.


CONCLUSIONS
Isotropic multisection echo-planar MR imaging, has the potential for noninvasive, reliable within-subject mapping of whole-brain functional anatomy.
Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health Neuroscience Center at St Elizabeth's, Washington, DC 20032, USA.
V S
VS
Mattay
J A
JA
Frank
A K
AK
Santha
J J
JJ
Pekar
J H
JH
Duyn
A C
AC
McLaughlin
D R
DR
Weinberger
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male