Multiline balanced SSFP for rapid functional imaging at ultrahigh field.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study is to develop and evaluate a multiline balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) sequence for passband functional MRI at ultrahigh field.

METHODS: Passband bSSFP functional MRI experiments using a visual task were performed on a 9.4 T system with echo trains ranging from one up to seven echoes. We analyze the acquisition efficiency, temporal and thermal signal-to-noise ratio, as well as the observed blood oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes.

RESULTS: With increasing repetition time and echo train length, the BOLD-related signal change as well as the thermal and temporal noise were improved. Activation patterns and signal changes were stable and reproducible across subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: We propose a multiline bSSFP for functional BOLD imaging that approaches the speed of echo-planar imaging and that shows an increased BOLD sensitivity compared with single-line bSSFP. Magn Reson Med 79:994-1000, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.