Simultaneous multi-slice (SMS, also called multiband, MB) EPI imaging is becoming widespread in functional
neuroimaging, in part due to the Human Connectome Project (HCP). These sequences allow greater spatial
and temporal resolution BOLD imaging, but are susceptible to additional artifacts (such as slice leakage), and
possibly more sensitive to motion and physiological artifacts. These complexities mean that multiband imaging
datasets cannot be treated as simply higher resolution versions of standard fMRI. The talks in this session will
be in the style of tutorials and reviews, aimed at introducing multiband fMRI to a wide neuroimaging
audience. The first talk (Benjamin Zahneisen) will introduce the basics of simultaneous multi-slice imaging,
including how SMS differs from regular imaging, specific hardware requirements, and challenges of SMS
associated with the higher temporal resolution and the limits of ever increasing multi-band factors. The
second talk (Benjamin Risk) will describe the impact of multiband acceleration factors on sensitivity and
specificity, particularly signal leakage (which can lead to spurious, false positive activations), providing
examples from HCP and simulated datasets. The final talk (Annika Linke) will describe study designs and fMRI
analysis methods (e.g., temporal ICA) that have benefited from SMS imaging, as well as its limitations for
resting state and activation fMRI studies, and experiences and recommendations for infant, pediatric, and
patient populations.