Multiparametric mapping of the brain at 7T using gradient echoes

The versatility and high effiecacy of the 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequence is employed for multi-parametric mapping of the brain at 7T. By variable flip angles (VFA) are used to map the transverse relaxation rate R1=1/T1 and proton density, but also magnetisation transfer (MT) if selective MT-pulses are applied off-resonance prior to excitation. Acquiring multiple gradient echoes yields the effective transverse relaxation rate R2*=1/T2*, besides an increase in SNR in VFA experiments. The signal phase is exploited for mapping the local B0 field, which in turn is modeled by quantitative distribution of susceptibility (qSM).