title: Spatial smoothing in fMRI using prolate spheroidal wave functions.
abstract: The acquisition of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data in a finite subset of k-space produces ring-artifacts and 'side lobes' that distort the image. In this article, we explore the consequences of this problem for functional imaging studies, which can be considerable, and propose a solution. The truncation of k-space is mathematically equivalent to convolving the underlying "true" image with a sinc function whose width is inversely related to the amount of truncation. Spatial smoothing with a large enough kernel can eliminate these artifacts, but at a cost in image resolution. However, too little spatial smoothing leaves the ringing artifacts and side lobes caused by k-space truncation intact, leading to a potential decrease in signal-to-noise ratio and statistical power. Thus, to make use of the high-resolution afforded by MRI without introducing artifacts, new smoothing filters are needed that are optimized to correct k-space truncation-related artifacts. We develop a prolate spheroidal wave function (PSWF) filter designed to eliminate truncation artifacts and compare its performance to the standard Gaussian filter in simulations and analysis of fMRI data on a visual-motor task. The PSWF filter effectively corrected truncation artifacts and resulted in more sensitive detection of visual-motor activity in expected brain regions, demonstrating its efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. martin@stat.columbia.edu
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.forename: Tor D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Wager
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010775:Photic Stimulation