Analysis strategies for high-resolution UHF-fMRI data

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 168; pp. 296 - 320
• Main Authors: Polimeni, Jonathan R., Renvall, Ville, Zaretskaya, Natalia, Fischl, Bruce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2018; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Anatomically-informed analysis; Brain; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain architecture; Brain mapping; Cortex; Data processing; Distortion correction; Distortion-matched functional and anatomical data; fMRI preprocessing; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Functional morphology; Functional Neuroimaging - methods; Functional Neuroimaging - standards; High-resolution fMRI; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - standards; Magnetic fields; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - standards; Noise; Spatial discrimination; Statistical analysis; Surface-based analysis; Surface-based distortion correction; Distortion-matched functional and anatomical data; Distortion correction; Anatomically-informed analysis; Surface-based analysis; fMRI preprocessing; Surface-based distortion correction; High-resolution fMRI
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.04.053

Functional MRI (fMRI) benefits from both increased sensitivity and specificity with increasing magnetic field strength, making it a key application for Ultra-High Field (UHF) MRI scanners. Most UHF-fMRI studies utilize the dramatic increases in sensitivity and specificity to acquire high-resolution data reaching sub-millimeter scales, which enable new classes of experiments to probe the functional organization of the human brain. This review article surveys advanced data analysis strategies developed for high-resolution fMRI at UHF. These include strategies designed to mitigate distortion and artifacts associated with higher fields in ways that attempt to preserve spatial resolution of the fMRI data, as well as recently introduced analysis techniques that are enabled by these extremely high-resolution data. Particular focus is placed on anatomically-informed analyses, including cortical surface-based analysis, which are powerful techniques that can guide each step of the analysis from preprocessing to statistical analysis to interpretation and visualization. New intracortical analysis techniques for laminar and columnar fMRI are also reviewed and discussed. Prospects for single-subject individualized analyses are also presented and discussed. Altogether, there are both specific challenges and opportunities presented by UHF-fMRI, and the use of proper analysis strategies can help these valuable data reach their full potential. •Ultra-high field strengths provide increased sensitivity and specificity for fMRI.•High-resolution fMRI data enables new analysis strategies and challenges.•Advanced preprocessing strategies can help preserve fMRI resolution.•Small-voxels enabled intracortical analyses for laminar and columnar fMRI.