Zero-echo time (ZTE) pulse sequence enables EEG-fMRI with suppression of susceptibility artifacts.

Simultaneous recording of fMRI and EEG is a promising approach to realize functional brain imaging with high temporal and spatial resolution. However, using standard echo planar imaging in conventional fMRI studies, implantation of electrodes on the cortical surface induces strong magnetic susceptibility artifacts in fMRI images. The zero-echo time (ZTE) sequences show a remarkable reduction in sensitivity to magnetic susceptibility artifacts and motion-derived artifacts. In this study, we showed that the ZTE sequence suppressed the susceptibility artifact by electrodes and air in the ear canal in mice. Furthermore, ZTE showed the typical functional connectivity in the mice at resting state.