Less noise, more activation: Multiband acquisition schemes for auditory functional MRI.

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Auditory Neuroscience
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Background:

• fMRI studies of audition are challenged by scanner noise and acquisition speed.
• Optimizing fMRI acquisition is crucial for reliable auditory response detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance fMRI acquisition for auditory studies using multiband (MB) gradient-echo echo planar imaging (GE-EPI).
• To compare MB GE-EPI with standard GE-EPI for auditory response detection.

Main Methods:

• Acquired data at 3T using a 32-channel head coil.
• Presented auditory stimuli (tones, natural sounds) during silent gaps.
• Compared two-fold slice acceleration (MB2) with standard GE-EPI (MB1) at a 3s repetition time (TR).
• Investigated two stimulus presentation schemes within MB2: same-length sounds (type 1) and double-length sounds (type 2).

Main Results:

• Functional responses to all sounds were stronger with slice acceleration (MB2) due to shorter acquisition times.
• The distinction between voice and nonvoice responses was greater in MB2 type 1 acquisitions compared to standard GE-EPI.
• Slice acceleration improved the detection of auditory responses, particularly for voice stimuli.

Conclusions:

• Reducing scanner noise duration via MB GE-EPI strengthens functional responses in fMRI.
• Utilizing longer silent periods with consistent sound length in MB2 enhances the differentiation of voice versus nonvoice auditory responses.
• MB GE-EPI offers a promising method for improving fMRI studies of audition.