Fully automated localization of the human primary somatosensory cortex in one minute by functional magnetic resonance imaging.
A clinical functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol based on a fully automated tactile stimulation was optimized in 10 right-handed volunteers at 1.5 T for minimum scan time, high BOLD-signals and robust localization of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) by systematically varying the applied block design. All volunteers had six different fMRI measurements of 5 stimulation/baseline cycles each with equal block duration that was changed between the measurements from 6 to 30 s. Data sets of 4, 3 and 2 cycles were generated post hoc resulting in a total of 240 data sets that were evaluated individually for BOLD-signal intensity (dS%), correlation to the hemodynamic reference function (r) and Euclidean coordinates (x, y, z). The protocol with 5 cycles, a block duration of 6 s and a total scan time of 66 s provided the best BOLD-signal characteristics (dS% = 1.15, r = 0.78). Compared to the mean scan time of other clinical fMRI protocols (174 s) a reduction of 62% was achieved.
Stippich
Christoph
C
Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. christoph_strippich@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Romanowski
Alexander
A
Nennig
Ernst
E
Kress
Bodo
B
Hähnel
Stefan
S
Sartor
Klaus
K
D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014110:Touch
D010100:Oxygen