MRI data will be collected using a
3-T Signa (GE) MR scanner equipped with an
8-channel phased-array head coil at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Each participant will be asked to remain still, keep their eyes closed, and think of nothing in particular. A foam pillow will be used to restrict head movement, and the earplugs will be provided to reduce noise interference. We will adopt previously validated MRI imaging protocols and acquire whole-brain functional images using echo-planar imaging (EPI) to measure blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal changes related to cognitive tasks. In addition, high-resolution T2 contrast images that are in alignment with the EPI images for later co-registration to 3D T1 high-resolution structural brain images will be acquired using the MPRAGE sequences. A T2-weighted gradient-echo image with BOLD contrast (TR, 3000 msec; TE, 50 msec; FA, 90°; voxel size, 3 × 3.5 × 3.5 mm
3) will be used subsequently. Functional images will be obtained to measure BOLD signal changes related to the cognitive tasks by using an EPI sequence, with the following scan parameters: repetition time (TR) = 2000 ms, echo time (TE) = 30 ms, flip angle (FA) = 90°, slice thickness = 3.75 mm, field of view (FOV) = 192 × 192 mm
2, and voxel size = 3.0 × 3.0 × 3.75 mm
3, with 243 brain volumes with 32 axial slices.
3
Yeh T.T., Chang K.C., Wu C.Y., Lee Y.Y., Chen P.Y, & Hung J.W. (2018). Effects and mechanism of the HECT study (hybrid exercise-cognitive trainings) in mild ischemic stroke with cognitive decline: fMRI for brain plasticity, biomarker and behavioral analysis. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 9, 164-171.