Pulsed arterial spin labeling: comparison of multisection baseline and functional MR imaging perfusion signal at 1.5 and 3.0 T: initial results in six subjects.

Flow-alternating inversion-recovery magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 3.0 T to measure cerebral perfusion during rest and motor activation in six healthy adult volunteers. Results were compared with those at 1.5 T. The mean signal-to-noise ratio for both gray matter and white matter perfusion measured with and without vascular suppression at 3.0 T was significantly (P <.01) higher (n = 6) than that at 1.5 T. Brain perfusion activation maps collected during a motor task showed a substantially larger number of activated pixels (>80%) at 3.0 T, with activation in the supplementary motor area in the 3.0-T data that was not present on 1.5-T perfusion maps.