Test-Retest Validation of Pulsatility Measurement Using Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Motivation: Pulsatility measurement using rsfMRI is an emerging technique for assessing brain health. However, its reliability is unclear. Goal(s): To investigate reliability of pulsatility measurement using nSD method and its consistency between 2D-PC. Approach: 7 subjects underwent two rsfMRI sessions. Correlation between PI calculated from 2D-PC and nSD pulsatility in the corresponding downstream vascular territories was also assessed. Results: Test-retest reliability of nSD fMRI pulsatility mapping was moderate and showed a positive correlation with 2D-PC. Impact: The nSD pulsatility demonstrated moderate reliability, suggesting that further evaluation and optimization of imaging protocol and algorithm are needed before broader application.