An in vivo model for functional MRI in cat visual cortex
Jezzard P., Rauschecker JP., Malonek D.
AbstractA protocol is described for obtaining functional magnetic resonance images in anesthetized cat brain based on the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast mechanism. A visual stimulus was used, which consisted of a high‐contrast drifting grating, whose speed and spatial frequency was optimized for cat area 18 (V2). Experiments were conducted at 4.7 Tesla using a gradient echo EPI sequence with a 29‐ms echo time, yielding signal changes of between 0.7% and 2% in area 18.