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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 14, 2019
Artifact correction in diffusion MRI of non-human primate brains on a clinical 3T scanner
Xiaodong Zhang1,2, John E Kirsch3, Xiaodong Zhong4
1Yerkes Imaging Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Background:
Smearing artifacts were observed and investigated in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies of macaque monkeys on a clinical whole-body 3T scanner.
Methods:
Four adult macaques were utilized to evaluate DTI artifacts. DTI images were acquired with a single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence using a parallel imaging technique.
Results:
The smearing artifacts observed on the diffusion-weighted images and fractional anisotropy maps were caused by the incomplete fat suppression due to the irregular macaque frontal skull geometry and anatomy. The artifact can be reduced substantially using a novel three-dimensional (3D) shimming procedure.
Conclusion:
The smearing artifacts observed on diffusion weighted images and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps of macaque brains can be reduced substantially using a robust 3D shimming approach. The DTI protocol combined with the shimming procedure could be a robust approach to examine brain connectivity and white matter integrity of non-human primates using a conventional clinical setting.
Insights
Smearing artifacts in macaque diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were caused by skull anatomy. A novel 3D shimming technique significantly reduced these artifacts, improving brain imaging quality.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Primate Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) studies in macaques are susceptible to smearing artifacts on clinical 3T scanners.
- These artifacts impact the accuracy of diffusion-weighted images and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps.
- Irregular macaque frontal skull geometry and anatomy contribute to incomplete fat suppression, causing these artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of smearing artifacts in macaque DTI.
- To evaluate methods for reducing these artifacts in non-human primate brain imaging.
- To optimize DTI protocols for clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- Acquisition of DTI images using a single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence with parallel imaging.
- Evaluation of artifacts in four adult macaques.
- Implementation and assessment of a novel three-dimensional (3D) shimming procedure.
Main Results:
- Smearing artifacts were identified as originating from incomplete fat suppression due to cranial anatomy.
- The novel 3D shimming procedure substantially reduced the observed smearing artifacts.
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps showed improved clarity after artifact reduction.
Conclusions:
- A robust 3D shimming approach effectively minimizes smearing artifacts in macaque brain DTI.
- This optimized DTI protocol is suitable for examining brain connectivity and white matter integrity in non-human primates.
- The findings support the use of clinical scanners for advanced primate neuroimaging research.
