2.4. Neuroimaging data acquisition

Structural and functional data were acquired using a 3T GE HDx Excite Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner utilizing an eight-channel phased array head coil at the York Neuroimaging Centre, University of York. Structural MRI acquisition in all participants was based on a T1-weighted 3D fast spoiled gradient echo sequence (repetition time (TR) = 7.8 s, echo time (TE) = minimum full, flip angle = 20°, matrix size = 256 × 256, 176 slices, voxel size = 1.13 mm × 1.13 mm × 1 mm). The task-based activity was recorded using single-shot 2D gradient-echo-planar imaging sequence with TR = 3 s, TE = minimum full, flip angle = 90°, matrix size = 64 × 64, 60 slices, and voxel size = 3 mm × 3 mm × 3 mm. Data was acquired in a single session. The task was presented across 5 functional runs, each containing 185 volumes.

In a different sample of participants, a 9-minute resting-state fMRI scan was recorded using single-shot 2D gradient-echo-planar imaging (TR = 3 s, TE = minimum full, flip angle = 90°, matrix size = 64 × 64, 60 slices, voxel size = 3 mm × 3 mm × 3 mm, 180 volumes). The participants were instructed to focus on a fixation cross with their eyes open and to keep as still as possible, without thinking about anything in particular. For both the task-based and the resting-state scanning, a fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) scan with the same orientation as the functional scans was collected to improve co-registration between subject-specific structural and functional scans. The resting-state data were collected alongside task data, with the resting-state sequence presented first, so that measures of intrinsic connectivity could not be influenced by task performance.