Method and apparatus for determining a hemodynamic response function for event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging

摘要

Embodiments of the subject invention can involve a method of suppressing noise in hemodynamic deconvolution for event-related functional MR imaging (ER-fMRI). A typical ER-fMRI experiment measures the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response to a series of sparse, short-duration stimuli. Based on the deconvolution of a hemodynamic response function (HRF) from the BOLD signal and event stimulus function, the neuronal activation can be localized to specific brain regions and tracked on the order of a second. ER-fMRI can be used to study the temporal dynamics of neuronal network. However, in certain situations, aliasing noise can be generated in hemodynamic deconvolution due to the low sampling rate limited by the imaging speed. This aliasing noise can reduce the accuracy of temporal characterization of the HRF. In an embodiment, by incorporating the use of a phantom having one or more coil loops positioned perpendicular to the magnetic field B_o, such that DC current inputted into one of the loops will produce field distortion to B_o, an ER-fMRI experiment can be calibrated and the temporal measurement of HRF can be improved with the removal of aliasing noise.