Achieva 1.5t mr scanner

The rtfMRI-NF system was implemented using a Philips Achieva 1.5T MR scanner (Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands) at the Biomedical Imaging Center of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. A standard 8-channel head coil was used. For functional image acquisition, we used the Fast Field Echo EPI sequence (TR/TE = 1500/45 ms, matrix size = 64 × 64, flip angle α = 70°, FOV: RL = 210 mm, AP = 210 mm, FH = 79 mm). Sixteen slices (voxel size = 3.2 × 3.3 × 4 mm³, gap = 1 mm) were used, oriented with AC/PC alignment to cover the entire temporal and most of the frontal and parietal lobes (Supplementary Figure 1). 150 and 166 scans (10 dummy scans for each one) were performed in each training and functional localizer run respectively. For the superimposition of functional maps on brain anatomy, anatomical T1-weighted brain volumes were acquired, using T1W-3D Turbo Field Echo (magnetization-prepared gradient-echo also known as MPRAGE) sequence (TR/TE = 7.4/3.4 ms, matrix size = 208 × 227, α = 8°, 317 partitions, voxels size = 1.1 × 1.1 × 0.6 mm³, TI = 868.7 ms). To prevent discomfort during MRI sessions, pads and air cushions were used to secure the head. Relatives of the ASD participants had the opportunity to accompany the researcher and follow the MRI sessions.

MR acquisition was done using a Philips Achieva 1.5T MR scanner (Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. A standard 8-channel head coil was used. Structural T1W brain volumes were acquired using T1W-3D Turbo Field Echo (TFE, magnetization prepared gradient echo also known as MPRAGE) sequence with TR/TE = 7.4/3.4 ms, matrix size = 208 × 227, α = 8°, 317 partitions, voxels size = 1.1 mm × 1.1 mm × 0.6 mm, TI = 868.7 ms. To prevent discomfort during MRI sessions, pads and air cushions were used to fix subject heads.
MR-compatible EEG caps with 64 electrodes (Compumedics Neuroscan Quik-Cap) were used for the entire experiment. In particular, the MR structural scan was acquired at the end of the neurofeedback experiment. Therefore, it should be noted that participants were inside the scanner (wearing the EEG cap) for around 1 h before extracting the MR volumes.

After cerebral angiography and revascularization of obstructed vessels, all patients underwent non-enhanced CT scan of brain immediately after AR. Follow-up CT was performed within 24 hours or 48 hours after the procedure. Gd-free MR scanning was performed in 21 patients within 48 hours after procedure. Using Philips Brilliance 256 rows of iCT scanners, all patients were scanned from the base of the skull to the top of the skull. Scanning conditions: 120KV, 300MA, layer thickness of 3 mm. Philips Achieva 1.5 T MR scanner was used to collect the images with the skull phased-front circle. The scanning sequence includes T1-weighted sequence, T2- weighted sequence, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (Flair), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) etc.