Functional MRI using 1.0 T MRI system. Evaluation of the image data processing methods

We evaluated image data processing methods for functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) with clinically available 1.0T MRI system. FMRI using T2* weighted fast low angles shot sequence (TR/TE of 91/60, 128 x 128 matrix and imaging time of 15 second) with left finger tapping paradigm was studied. Twenty-four off images and 16 on images were calculated with cross correlation analysis, spectrum analysis and non paired t-tests, in addition to the conventional image subtraction methods. Compared with the standard subtraction methods, right primary motor cortex was well delineated and back ground noise was reduced in other three methods. T-map with median filtering can play an effective role in reducing noise spikes. (author)