Cardiac cycle-induced EPI time series fluctuations in the brain: Their temporal shifts, inflow effects and Tfluctuations

Olivia Viessmann, Harald E. Möller, Peter Jezzard

Abstract: Highlights•The timing of cardiac cycle-induced fluctuations in EPI time series was measured with fast EPI.•Fluctuations are delayed differentially in different brain regions.•Cortical voxels are closely matching the timing of arterial structures whereas subcortical voxels are shifted.•We used double-echo EPI to map S0 and T2∗ in each voxel over the cardiac cycle.•S0 pulsatility varies across voxels but a consistent T2∗ pulsatility was found in all voxels.