Event-related fMRI technique for auditory processing with hemodynamics unrelated to acoustic gradient noise.
Acoustic noise from the imaging gradients presents a major difficulty in functional MRI (fMRI) studies of auditory cortical function. For studies involving hearing-impaired pediatric subjects, the auditory stimuli should be presented during completely silent gradient intervals. In addition, the scan time is limited by constraints involving subject motion and subject compliance. A novel event-related method for conducting fMRI studies of auditory function is proposed. Auditory stimuli are presented during completely silent gradient intervals, but using a variable TR. A general nonlinear model (GNLM) is proposed as a postprocessing methodology for the data. The technique increases the flexibility of the experimental design, with minimal loss of sensitivity compared to standard fMRI acquisition techniques, and may therefore be useful for fMRI studies of auditory function in hearing-impaired pediatric subjects.
Schmithorst
Vincent J
VJ
Imaging Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. vince@athena.cchmc.org
Holland
Scott K
SK
D000328:Adult; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009622:Noise; D010372:Pediatrics; D012372:ROC Curve