A 16 channel time-multiplexed head coil array for functional MR imaging

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain relies on small signal differences caused by changes in regional blood volume during task activation. At commonly used field strengths the signal differences are extremely small, but useable. This paper presents a time-multiplexed sixteen channel surface coil array for fMRI. The new coil obtains a factor of two or more improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as compared to the standard head coil in the visual and motor cortex. Additionally, the SNR is nearly as high as the standard coil in the center of the brain