Characterisation and reduction of the EEG artefact caused by the helium cooling pump in the MR environment: validation in epilepsy patient data.

The EEG acquired simultaneously with fMRI is distorted by a number of artefacts related to the presence of strong magnetic fields, which must be reduced in order to allow for a useful interpretation and quantification of the EEG data. For the two most prominent artefacts, associated with magnetic field gradient switching and the heart beat, reduction methods have been developed and applied successfully. However, a number of artefacts related to the MR-environment can be found to distort the EEG data acquired even without ongoing fMRI acquisition.

Reduction of EEG artefacts induced by vibration in the MR-environment.

The EEG acquired simultaneously with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is distorted by a number of artefacts related to the presence of strong magnetic fields. In order to allow for a useful interpretation of the EEG data, it is necessary to reduce these artefacts. For the two most prominent artefacts, associated with magnetic field gradient switching and the heart beat, reduction methods have been developed and applied successfully.