MB-SWIFT functional MRI during deep brain stimulation in rats

•MB-SWIFT is a virtually zero-TE pulse sequence and it can achieve high bandwidths.•It is shown to produce functional contrast during deep brain stimulation in rats.•Susceptibility artefact surrounding the electrode is minimized.•The extent and amplitude of the functional response are similar to that of SE-EPI.•The functional contrast is related to inflow of blood.

Recently introduced 3D radial MRI pulse sequence entitled Multi-Band SWeep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (MB-SWIFT) having virtually zero acquisition delay was used to obtain functional MRI (fMRI) contrast in rat's brain at 9.4 T during deep brain stimulation (DBS). The results demonstrate that MB-SWIFT allows functional images free of susceptibility artifacts, and provides an excellent fMRI activation contrast in the brain. Flip angle dependence of the MB-SWIFT fMRI signal and elimination of the fMRI contrast while using saturation bands, indicate a blood flow origin of the observed fMRI contrast. MB-SWIFT fMRI modality permits activation studies in the close proximity to an implanted lead, which is not possible to achieve with conventionally used gradient echo and spin echo - echo planar imaging fMRI techniques. We conclude that MB-SWIFT fMRI is a powerful imaging modality for investigations of functional responses during DBS.

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