Work

Magnetic field homogenization of the human prefrontal cortex with a set of localized electrical coils

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: The prefrontal cortex is a common target brain structure in psychiatry and neuroscience due to its role in working memory and cognitive control. Large differences in magnetic susceptibility between the air-filled sinuses and the tissue/bone in the frontal part of the human head cause a strong and highly localized magnetic field focus in the prefrontal cortex. As a result, image distortion and signal dropout are observed in MR imaging. A set of external electrical coils is presented that provides localized and high-amplitude shim fields in the prefrontal cortex, with minimum impact on the rest of the brain when combined with regular zero- to second-order spherical harmonics shimming. The experimental realization of the new shim method strongly minimized or even eliminated signal dropout in gradient-echo images acquired at settings typically used in functional magnetic resonance at 4 T.

Source: Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

DOI: 10.1002/mrm.22164

Authors: Christoph Juchem, Terence W. Nixon, Scott McIntyre, Douglas L. Rothman, Robin A. de Graaf

Institution: Yale University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Yale University, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering