Varian unity inova whole body mri mrs system

Scanning was conducted at the University of Cincinnati Center for Imaging Research using a 4.0 Tesla Varian Unity INOVA Whole Body MRI/MRS system (Varian Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) following a protocol we have previously described.^{9 ,14 (link),16 (link)} Briefly, to provide anatomic localization, a high-resolution, T1-weighted, 3-D brain scan was obtained followed by a multi-echo reference scan to correct for ghost and geometric distortions.^{17 (link),18 (link)} For fMRI, whole-brain images (volumes) were acquired every three seconds using a T2*-weighted gradient-echo echoplanar imaging (EPI) pulse sequence [TR/TE = 3000/30 msec, FOV = 20.8 × 20.8 cm, matrix = 64 × 64 pixels, slice thickness = 5 mm, flip angle = 75°].

Following the screening, all subjects underwent brain scans with a 4.0 Tesla Varian Unity INOVA Whole Body MRI/MRS system (Varian Inc., Palo Alto, CA) located at the Center for Imaging Research at the University of Cincinnati. To provide anatomical localization for activation maps, a high-resolution, T₁ -weighted, 3-D brain scan was obtained using a modified driven equilibrium Fourier transform (MDEFT) sequence after which a multi-echo reference scan was obtained (Lee et al., 1995 ). A midsagittal localizer scan was acquired to place 30 contiguous 5 mm axial slices to encompass the entire brain. Next, a multi-echo reference scan was obtained to correct for ghost and geometric distortions (Schmithorst et al., 2001). Subjects completed the fMRI session in which whole-brain images (volumes) were acquired every 2 seconds while performing the continuous processing affective Posner task (described below) (Rich et al., 2011 (link)) using a T₂-weighted gradient-echo echoplanar imaging (EPI) pulse sequence. Visual stimuli were presented using high-resolution video goggles (Resonance Technologies, Inc., Northridge, California).

All fMRI scans were obtained at the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Imaging Research using a 4.0 Tesla Varian Unity INOVA Whole Body MRI/MRS system (Varian Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) following a protocol we have previously described.^{11 (link), 19 (link)} Briefly, to provide anatomic localization, a high-resolution, T1-weighted, 3-D brain scan was obtained followed by a multi-echo reference scan to correct for ghost and geometric distortions.^{20 (link), 21 (link)} For fMRI, whole-brain images (volumes) were acquired every three seconds using a T2*-weighted gradient-echo echoplanar imaging (EPI) pulse sequence [repetition time/echo time (TR/TE) = 3000/25 msec, field of view (FOV) = 256 × 256 mm, matrix = 64 × 64 pixels, 35 slices, slice thickness = 4 mm, flip angle = 90°]. Two runs of 174 images were acquired, and the first two images were discarded to account for non-steady state magnetization leaving 172 images for analysis.