An Updated Quality Assurance Pipeline Addressing Nyquist Ghosting for 7T fMRI

Motivation: The quality of the high-resolution fMRI relies on the stability and high-performance of the ultra-high field scanners. A standardized quality assurance (QA) pipeline for 7T scanners is urgently needed. Goal(s): We aimed to establish a comprehensive QA pipeline for 7T fMRI to monitor the stability and performance of scanners. Approach: First, we designed an agar phantom for 7T fMRI. Second, we optimized the scanning parameters for high-resolution fMRI. Third, we developed an analysis program for QA report addressing Nyquist ghosting. Results: The Nyquist ghosting rate reflected the phase error during acquisition. The QA metrics described the stability and performance of the scanner. Impact: We firstly provide the QA pipeline for 7T high-resolution fMRI. The daily QA scanning routine serves as a valuable tool to monitor the stability and high-performance of the scanners, thereby contributing to the overall quality control of fMRI data.