Oscillating steady-state imaging (OSSI): A novel method for functional MRI

Purpose Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is crucial for high-resolution fMRI; however, current methods for SNR improvement are limited. A new approach, called oscillating steady-state imaging (OSSI), produces a signal that is large and T2*-weighted, and is demonstrated to produce improved SNR compared to gradient echo (GRE) imaging with matched effective TE and spatial-temporal acquisition characteristics for high-resolution fMRI. Methods Quadratic phase sequences were combined with balanced gradients to produce a large, oscillating steady-state signal. The quadratic phase progression was periodic over short intervals such as 10 TRs, inducing a frequency-dependent phase dispersal. Images over one period were combined to produce a single image with effectively T2*-weighting. The OSSI parameters were explored through simulation and phantom data, and 2D and 3D human fMRI data were collected using OSSI and GRE imaging. Results Phantom and human OSSI data showed highly reproducible signal oscillations with greater signal strength than GRE. Compared to single slice GRE with matched effective TE and spatial-temporal resolution, OSSI yielded more activation in the visual cortex by a factor of 1.84 and an improvement in temporal SNR by a factor of 1.83. Voxelwise percentage change comparisons between OSSI and GRE demonstrate a similar T2*-weighted contrast mechanism with additional T2 '-weighting of about 15 ms immediately after the RF pulse. Conclusions OSSI is a new acquisition method that exploits a large, oscillating signal that is T2*-weighted and suitable for fMRI. The steady-state signal from balanced gradients creates higher signal strength than single slice GRE at varying TEs, enabling greater volumes of functional activity and higher SNR for high-resolution fMRI.