Recording of the event-related potentials during functional MRI at 3.0 Tesla field strength

The feasibility of recording event-related potentials (ERP) during function al MRI (fMRI) scanning was studied. Using an alternating checkerboard stimu lus in a blocked presentation, visually evoked potentials were obtained wit h their expected configuration and latencies. A clustered echoplanar imagin g protocol was applied to observe the hemodynamic response due to the visua l stimulus interleaved with measuring ERPs. Influences of the electrode/amp lifier set up on MRI scanning and the scanning process on the recording of electrophysiological signals are reported and discussed. Artifacts overlaid on the electrophysiological recordings were corrected by post hoc filterin g methods presented here. Implications and limitations of conducting combin ed ERP/fMRI experiments using higher-level cognitive stimuli are discussed. Magn Reson Med 44: 277-282, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.