Spin Echo BOLD fMRI on Songbirds

The advent of high-field MRI systems has allowed implementation of BOLD fMRI on small animals. Increased magnetic field improves the signal-to-noise ratio and thus allows improvement of spatial resolution. However, it also increases susceptibility artefacts in the commonly acquired gradient echo images. The problem is particularly challenging in songbirds due to the presence of numerous air cavities in the skull of birds. This problem can be solved by using spin echo BOLD fMRI. In this chapter, we describe how to use this technique in zebra finches, a small songbird of 15–25 g extensively studied in behavioural neurosciences of birdsong. The protocol implements auditory stimuli.