Functional bold MRI: advantages of the 3 T vs. the 1.5 T

García-Eulate, Reyes; García-García, David; Dominguez, Pablo D.; Noguera, Jose J.; De Luis, Esther; Rodriguez-Oroz, María C.; Zubieta, Jose L.

doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2010.07.003

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Volume 35, Issue 3 , Pages 236-241, May 2011

Functional bold MRI: advantages of the 3 T vs. the 1.5 T

Reyes García-Eulate
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Corresponding author. Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Avenida Pio XII 36, Pamplona 31008, Spain. Tel.: +34 948255400; fax: +34 948 296500.
David García-García
- Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Medical School, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomedica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED; Spanish Government), Madrid, Spain
Pablo D. Dominguez
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Jose J. Noguera
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Esther De Luis
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
María C. Rodriguez-Oroz
- Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Medical School, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomedica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED; Spanish Government), Madrid, Spain
Jose L. Zubieta
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

Received 20 March 2010; accepted 1 May 2010. published online 27 August 2010.

Abstract

We quantitatively evaluate the benefits of a higher field strength for functional brain MRI (fMRI) based on the blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast. The 3-T fMRI shows a higher sensitivity for the motor and somatosensory stimulation and more specific localization in the grey substance. The 3-T fMRI detects additional areas of activation with the motor paradigm.

Keywords: Functional MRI, Motor task, Somatosensory stimulation, Field strength