Targeted brain activation using an MR-compatible wrist torque measurement device and isometric motor tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging

Martijn P Vlaar; Winfred Mugge; Paul F C Groot; Sarvi Sharifi; Lo J Bour; Frans C T van der Helm; Anne-Fleur van Rootselaar; Alfred C Schouten

doi:10.1016/j.mri.2016.02.002

Targeted brain activation using an MR-compatible wrist torque measurement device and isometric motor tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging

Magn Reson Imaging. 2016 Jul;34(6):795-802. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Mar 8.

Authors

Martijn P Vlaar¹, Winfred Mugge², Paul F C Groot³, Sarvi Sharifi⁴, Lo J Bour⁴, Frans C T van der Helm⁵, Anne-Fleur van Rootselaar⁴, Alfred C Schouten⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.p.vlaar@tudelft.nl.
² Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands; MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.

PMID: 26968144
DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2016.02.002

Abstract

Dedicated pairs of isometric wrist flexion tasks, with and without visual feedback of the exerted torque, were designed to target activation of the CBL and BG in healthy subjects during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Selective activation of the cerebellum (CBL) and basal ganglia (BG), often implicated in movement disorders such as tremor and dystonia, may help identify pathological changes and expedite diagnosis. A prototyped MR-compatible wrist torque measurement device, free of magnetic and conductive materials, allowed safe execution of tasks during fMRI without causing artifacts. A significant increase of activity in CBL and BG was found in healthy volunteers during a constant torque task with visual feedback compared to a constant torque task without visual feedback. This study shows that specific pairs of motor tasks using MR-compatible equipment at the wrist allow for targeted activation of CBL and BG, paving a new way for research into the pathophysiology of movement disorders.

Keywords: Basal ganglia; Cerebellum; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Isometric motor tasks; Optical force sensor; fMRI.

MeSH terms

Adult
Brain / diagnostic imaging*
Brain / physiology*
Female
Humans
Isometric Contraction / physiology*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Magnetics
Male
Movement / physiology
Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
Reference Values
Torque
Wrist Joint / diagnostic imaging*
Wrist Joint / physiology*