Data-driven evaluation and optimization of acquisition strategies for ultra-high-field functional MRI at 7 Tesla

Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is commonly performed using 2D single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI). However, recent studies have suggested that 3D multi-shot sequences such as PRESTO may offer comparable BOLD contrast-to-noise ratio with increased volume coverage and decreased geometric distortions. A four-way comparison was performed between 2D and 3D acquisition sequences at two inplane resolutions at 7 Tesla. The quality of fMRI data was evaluated via independent and unbiased metrics of prediction and reproducibility using NPAIRS. Results show that although high-resolution EPI had the highest overall z-scores, PRESTO had higher z-scores than EPI at a matched in-plane resolution. Activation maps constructed with data from EPI and PRESTO show very good agreement in both sensitivity and specificity.