Automated real-time behavioral and physiological data acquisition and display integrated with stimulus presentation for fMRI

Voyvodic Voyvodic

doi:10.3389/fninf.2011.00027

Abstract

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is based on correlating blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal fluctuations in the brain with other time-varying signals. Although the most common reference for correlation is the timing of a behavioral task performed during the scan, many other behavioral and physiological variables can also influence fMRI signals. Variations in cardiac and respiratory functions in particular are known to contribute significant BOLD signal fluctuations. Variables such as skin conduction, eye movements, and other measures that may be relevant to task performance can also be correlated with BOLD signals and can therefore be used in image analysis to differentiate multiple components in complex brain activity signals. Combining real-time recording and data management of multiple behavioral and physiological signals in a way that can be routinely used with any task stimulus paradigm is a non-trivial software design problem. Here we discuss software methods that allow users control of paradigm-specific audio–visual or other task stimuli combined with automated simultaneous recording of multi-channel behavioral and physiological response variables, all synchronized with sub-millisecond temporal accuracy. We also discuss the implementation and importance of real-time display feedback to ensure data quality of all recorded variables. Finally, we discuss standards and formats for storage of temporal covariate data and its integration into fMRI image analysis. These neuroinformatics methods have been adopted for behavioral task control at all sites in the Functional Biomedical Informatics Research Network (FBIRN) multi-center fMRI study.

Highlights

Functional magnetic resonance imaging has become a standard neuroimaging method for measuring human brain function
Performing Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies typically involves the use of three different types of computer software: MRI pulse sequence software for image acquisition, behavioral software for temporal control of stimulus presentation and response recording, and image analysis software for extracting brain function signals from MR images
Due to variable behavioral results in its earlier study phases, for its Phase 3 multi-center fMRI study the Functional Biomedical Informatics Research Network (FBIRN) project decided that all eight MRI acquisition sites should purchase and install similar behavioral and physiological monitoring equipment

Summary

Introduction

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become a standard neuroimaging method for measuring human brain function. Performing fMRI studies typically involves the use of three different types of computer software: MRI pulse sequence software for image acquisition, behavioral software for temporal control of stimulus presentation and response recording, and image analysis software for extracting brain function signals from MR images. Because of the variability of specific task designs, programs such as E-Prime (Psychology Software Tools Inc.), Presentation (Neurobehavioral Systems Inc.), Cogent, Paradigm, and others provide a variety of different programming approaches to enable users to prepare customized sequences of visual and auditory stimuli, and to accept behavioral responses from button press and cursor movement devices. The only non-task signal typically monitored in most fMRI software programs is the timing of the beginning of MR scanner image acquisition in order to ensure proper synchronization of behavioral task timing with the time series of brain images being collected

Methods

Results

Conclusion