fMRI protocols

Resting

Early 2017: 420 scans, TR = 720 ms

Challenges

As of 2017, there are five task fMRI protocols. Each uses the 2017 HCP fMRI protocol with TR = 800 ms.

1st: Hand grip

2nd: Valsalva

3rd: Inspiratory Loading

4th: Breath hold

5th: Stroop

Rationale behind order

1. Resting
   1. No task, so fits with structural scans
   2. Test Trigger Signal - view on Physiology
2. Hand grip
   1. The easiest task to understand
   2. Gets people used to seeing screen, task on/off
   3. It is related to the hand grip max, which was the last thing performed (as people go into the scanner)
3. Valsalva
   1. Most important, so do as soon as possible
   2. Most important, so do after a run-through with hg - subjects already familiar with viewing screen
4. Inspiratory loading
   1. Next most important
   2. Closely related to Valsalva
5. Breath hold
   1. Equally important to inspiratory loading
   2. Simpler, easier to do at end when subject may be tired
6. Stroop
   1. Exploratory, so least important if we don't get it
   2. Short, can easily determine if will get completed within time
   3. Different to everything else
   4. Can set up button box when walking into scanner during previous tasks (plug in box, set up configuration, test key entries)