The radiofrequency (RF) transmit field is severely inhomogeneous at ultrahigh field due to both RF penetration and RF coil design issues. This particularly impairs image quality for sequences that use inversion pulses such as magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo and limits the use of quantitative arterial spin labeling sequences such as flow-attenuated inversion recovery. Here we have used a search algorithm to produce inversion pulses tailored to take into account the heterogeneity of the RF transmit field at 7 T. This created a slice selective inversion pulse that worked well (good slice profile and uniform inversion) over the range of RF amplitudes typically obtained in the head at 7 T while still maintaining an experimentally achievable pulse length and pulse amplitude in the brain at 7 T. The pulses used were based on the frequency offset correction inversion technique, as well as time dilation of functions, but the RF amplitude, frequency sweep, and gradient functions were all generated using a genetic algorithm with an evaluation function that took into account both the desired inversion profile and the transmit field inhomogeneity.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the principal neuroimaging techniques for studying human audition, but it generates an intense background sound which hinders listening performance and confounds measures of the auditory response. This paper reports the perceptual effects of an active noise control (ANC) system that operates in the electromagnetically hostile and physically compact neuroimaging environment to provide significant noise reduction, without interfering with image quality. Cancellation was first evaluated at 600Hz, corresponding to the dominant peak in the power spectrum of the background sound and at which cancellation is maximally effective. Microphone measurements at the ear demonstrated 35dB of acoustic attenuation [from 93to58dB sound pressure level (SPL)], while masked detection thresholds improved by 20dB (from 74to54dB SPL). Considerable perceptual benefits were also obtained across other frequencies, including those corresponding to dips in the spectrum of the background sound. Cancellation also improved the statistical detection of sound-related cortical activation, especially for sounds presented at low intensities. These results confirm that ANC offers substantial benefits for fMRI research.