Visual evoked potentials recovered from fMRI scan periods

Abstract

Simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) may allow functional imaging of the brain at high temporal and spatial resolution. Artifacts generated in the EEG signal during MR acquisition, however, continue to pose a major challenge. Due to these artifacts, an interleaved modus has often been used for "evoked potential" experiments, i.e., only EEG signals recorded between MRI scan periods were assessed. An obvious disadvantage of this approach is the loss of a portion of the EEG information, which might be relevant for the specific scientific issue. In this study, continuous, simultaneous EEG-fMRI measurements were carried out. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) could be reconstructed reliably from periods during MR scanning and in between successive scans. No significant differences between both VEPs were detected. This indicates sufficient artifact removal as well as physiological correspondence of VEPs in both periods. Simultaneous continuous VEP-fMRI recordings are thus shown to be feasible.