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Abstract

Introduction: Understanding the quantitative relationship between the BOLD signal and the underlying neural activities is crucial for interpreting fMRI data and better understanding neurovascular coupling. Extracellular local field potential (LFP) recordings could provide complementary electrophysiological information. However, two challenges limit this combined method in most fMRI labs: First, the complicated MRI apparatus and sequences bring tremendous noise to LFP signals when no Faraday cage is allowed inside the scanner. Second, the long connection cable to the conventional EEG electrodes picks up electromagnetic interference artifacts, making simultaneous fMRI/EEG difficult to implement. To overcome these challenges, we fabricated a wirelessly integrated sensor to detect simultaneous fMRI and LFP without modifications to the MRI scanner's hardware/software. This design provides the possibility to surpass conventional paradigms of concurrent fMRI/LFP, to boost their individual performance via complementary strengths, thus better interpreting fMRI and understanding neurovascular coupling.