---
title: Standard sequences
description: "## Structural ### T1-weighted #### MPRAGE High resolution, T~1-weighted, structural MRI | Parameter | Value | | --- | --- | | Acquisition time | 4 min 32 s | | Type | 3D (sagittal slices) | | FOV (A-P…"
url: "https://cubicwiki.psychologyresearch.co.uk/docs/standard-sequences/"
updated: "2026-06-18"
category: "Facilities & Sequences"
---

# Standard sequences

## Structural

### T1-weighted

#### MPRAGE

High resolution, T~1-weighted, structural MRI

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 4 min 32 s |
| Type | 3D (sagittal slices) |
| FOV (A-P x L-R x F-H) | 256 mm x 192 mm x 256 mm |
| Matrix | 256 x 256 x 192 (rotated!) |
| Resolution | 1 mm isotropic |
| TR | 2250 ms |
| TI | 900 ms |
| TE | 2.98 ms |
| Flip angle | 9 deg |
| Parallel imaging | GRAPPA Acceleration factor PE: 2 Reference lines PE: 24 |

### T2-weighted

#### Turbo Spin Echo (TSE)

Quick, high (in-plane) resolution, T~2-weighted, structural MRI (for incidental findings)

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 1 min 38 s |
| Type | 2D |
| Slices | 29 |
| Slice thickness | 4 mm |
| Slice gap | 30% (1.2 mm) |
| FOV | 220 mm x 220 mm |
| Matrix | 320 x 320 |
| Resolution | 0.7 mm x 0.7 mm |
| TR | 5060 ms |
| TE | 102 ms |
| Flip angle | 140 deg |
| Parallel imaging | GRAPPA Acceleration factor PE: 2 Reference lines PE: 26 |

#### TSE FLAIR

High (in-plane) resolution, T~2-weighted, 'dark-fluid', structural MRI (for incidental findings)

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 4 min 32 s |
| Type | 2D |
| Slices | 25 |
| Slice thickness | 4 mm |
| Slice gap | 30% (1.2 mm) |
| FOV | 220 mm x 220 mm |
| Matrix | 256 x 256 |
| Resolution | 0.9 mm x 0.9 mm |
| TR | 9000 ms |
| TI | 2500 ms |
| TE | 100 ms |
| Flip angle | 150 deg |

## Diffusion MRI

High resolution, T~1-weighted, structural MRI

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 8 min 52 s |
| Type | 2D (Axial slices) |
| b-value | 0, 1000 |
| Number of directions | 64 (256 possible with a larger TA) |
| FOV | 192 mm x 192 mm |
| Matrix | 96 x 96 |
| Resolution | 2 mm isotropic |
| TR | 7800 ms |
| TE | 90 ms |
| Flip angle |  |
| Parallel imaging | GRAPPA Acceleration factor PE: 2 Reference lines PE: 24 |

## BOLD fMRI

T~2*-weighted EPI sequences with BOLD contrast

### Standard fMRI

Functional MRI with 3 mm isotropic spatial resolution

#### EPI_Standard

Standard fMRI, 2 s per volume

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 2 s (per volume) |
| Type | 2D |
| Slices | 32 |
| Slice thickness | 3 mm |
| Slice gap | 25% (0.75 mm) |
| Slice order | Descending (32 - 1) |
| FOV | 192 mm x 192 mm |
| Matrix | 64 x 64 |
| Resolution | 3 mm x 3 mm |
| TR | 2000 ms |
| TE | 30 ms |
| Flip angle | 78 deg |
| Bandwidth | 2112 Hz/Px |
| Echo spacing | 0.54 ms |

#### EPI_Standard_1s

Standard fMRI, 1 s per volume with reduced brain coverage

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 1 s (per volume) |
| Slices | 16 |
| Slice order | Descending (16 - 1) |
| TR | 1000 ms |
| Bandwidth | 2232 Hz/Px |
| Echo spacing | 0.51 ms |

Other parameters are those of EPI_Standard.

### High Resolution fMRI

Functional MRI with 2 mm isotropic or higher spatial resolution

#### EPI_HighRes_2iso

fMRI with 2 mm isotropic spatial resolution, 2 s per volume. Keep in mind that the thinner slices leads to reduced brain coverage!

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 2 s (per volume) |
| Type | 2D |
| Slices | 32 |
| Slice thickness | 2 mm |
| Slice gap | 25% (0.5 mm) |
| Slice order | Descending (32 - 1) |
| FOV | 192 mm x 192 mm |
| Matrix | 96 x 96 |
| Resolution | 2 mm x 2 mm |
| TR | 2000 ms |
| TE | 30 ms |
| Flip angle | 78 deg |
| Bandwidth | 1628 Hz/Px |
| Echo spacing | 0.7 ms |
| Parallel imaging | GRAPPA Acceleration factor PE: 2 Reference lines PE: 48 |

#### EPI_HighRes_2iso_WholeBrain

fMRI with 2 mm isotropic spatial resolution, 40 slices for a whole brain coverage. Keep in mind that acquiring more slices leads to longer acquisition time!

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 2.5 s (per volume) |
| Slices | 40 |
| TR | 2500 ms |

Other parameters are those of EPI_HighRes_2iso.

#### EPI_HighRes_2iso_LargerFOV

fMRI with 2 mm isotropic spatial resolution, with a FOV of 205 mm for patricipants with larger head. Keep in mind that acquiring slices with larger FOV leads to slightly fewer slices thus slightly more reduced brain coverage!

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Slices | 30 |
| FOV | 205 mm x 205 mm |
| Matrix | 102 x 102 |
| Bandwidth | 1400 Hz/Px |
| Echo spacing | 0.8 ms |

Other parameters are those of EPI_HighRes_2iso.

#### EPI_HighRes_1.5x1.5x2mm

fMRI with 1.5 mm in-plane (highest achievable) spatial resolution, 2 s per volume. Keep in mind that acquiring slices with higher resolution leads to slightly fewer slices thus slightly more reduced brain coverage!

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 2 s (per volume) |
| Slices | 28 |
| Matrix | 128 x 128 |
| Resolution | 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm |
| Bandwidth | 1502 Hz/Px |
| Echo spacing | 0.75 ms |

Other parameters are those of EPI_HighRes_2iso.

## Fieldmap

Magnetic field mapping sequences required to

- undistort EPI data (e.g. fMRI, DWI)
- measure functional sensitivity

![:!:](http://54.236.43.240/lib/images/smileys/exclaim.svg) It has to be acquired with the same geometry (FOV, resolution, alignment, slice centre) as the EPI data! ![:!:](http://54.236.43.240/lib/images/smileys/exclaim.svg)

### Standard Fieldmap

Fieldmap with 3 mm isotropic spatial resolution. It matches with Standard fMRI sequences.

#### Fieldmapping

Dual-echo fieldmap

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 54 s |
| Type | 2D |
| Slices | 32 |
| Slice thickness | 3 mm |
| Slice gap | 25% (0.75 mm) |
| FOV | 192 mm x 192 mm |
| Matrix | 64 x 64 |
| Resolution | 3 mm x 3 mm |
| TR | 400 ms |
| TE | 5.19 ms, 7.65 ms |
| Flip angle | 60 deg |

### High Resolution Fieldmaps

Fieldmaps 2 mm isotropic or higher spatial resolution. They match with High resolution fMRI sequences.

#### Fieldmapping_2iso

High resolution dual-echo fieldmap

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 1 m 19 s |
| Type | 2D |
| Slices | 32 |
| Slice thickness | 2 mm |
| Slice gap | 25% (0.5 mm) |
| FOV | 192 mm x 192 mm |
| Matrix | 96 x 96 |
| Resolution | 2 mm x 2 mm |
| TR | 400 ms |
| TE | 5.19 ms, 7.65 ms |
| Flip angle | 60 deg |

#### Fieldmapping_2iso_WholeBrain

High resolution dual-echo fieldmap with whole brain coverage

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 1 m 26 s |
| Slices | 40 |
| TR | 437 ms |

Other parameters are those of Fieldmapping_2iso.

#### Fieldmapping_2iso_LargerFOV

High resolution dual-echo fieldmap with larger FOV

| Parameter | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 1 m 24 s |
| Slices | 30 |
| FOV | 205 mm x 205 mm |
| Matrix | 102 x 102 |

Other parameters are those of Fieldmapping_2iso.

#### Fieldmapping_1.5x1.5x2mm

High resolution dual-echo fieldmap with our highest achievable in-plane resolution

| Parameter | Value |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acquisition time | 1 m 45 s |  |
| Slices | 32 |  |
| Matrix | 128 x 128 |  |
| Resolution | 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm |  |

Other parameters are those of Fieldmapping_2iso.