Scanner Environment Research Articles

Reproducibility Analysis to Validate Language Processes Involving Kanji and Chinese Characters under Different MRI Scanner Environments

Reproducibility Analysis to Validate Language Processes Involving Kanji and Chinese Characters under Different MRI Scanner Environments

A Common Anterior Insula Representation of Disgust Observation, Experience and Imagination Shows Divergent Functional Connectivity Pathways

Similar brain regions are involved when we imagine, observe and execute an action. Is the same true for emotions? Here, the same subjects were scanned while they (a) experience, (b) view someone else experiencing and (c) imagine experiencing gustatory emotions (through script-driven imagery). Capitalizing on the fact that disgust is repeatedly inducible within the scanner environment, we scanned the same participants while they (a) view actors taste the content of a cup and look disgusted (b) tasted unpleasant bitter liquids to induce disgust, and (c) read and imagine scenarios involving disgust and their neutral counterparts. To reduce habituation, we inter-mixed trials of positive emotions in all three scanning experiments. We found voxels in the anterior Insula and adjacent frontal operculum to be involved in all three modalities of disgust, suggesting that simulation in the context of social perception and mental imagery of disgust share a common neural substrates. Using effective connectivity, this shared region however was found to be embedded in distinct functional circuits during the three modalities, suggesting why observing, imagining and experiencing an emotion feels so different.

A dichoptic projection system for visual psychophysics in fMRI scanners

Here we describe a projection system based on the combination of linear polarizing filters, designed to allow dichoptic presentation of visual stimuli during fMRI experiments. Currently available MRI compatible dichoptic presentation systems are either highly expensive, require degradation of the projected stimulus such as the removal of all but one color or are difficult to deploy in a range of scanner environments. The system described here is relatively low in cost, requires no change in stimulus properties and could be used in many types of scanner facilities. We provide a verification of the system demonstrating minimal cross-talk between the images presented to the two eyes.

Safe MR Practices: Self-Assessment Module

The educational objectives for this self-assessment module on safe MR practices are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her knowledge of hazards to patients, medical personnel, and others in the MR scanner environment, and to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her knowledge of safe practices in the operation of MR scanners.

Validation of Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor Technology for Organ Dose Assessment During CT: Comparison with Thermoluminescent Dosimetry

The purposes of this study were to apply near-real-time dose-measurement technology with metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) to the assessment of organ dose during CT and to validate the method in comparison with the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) method. Dosimetry measurements were performed in two ways, one with TLDs and the other with MOSFETs. Twenty organ locations were selected in an adult anthropomorphic female phantom. High-sensitivity MOSFET dosimeters were used. For the reference standard, TLDs were placed in the same organ locations as the MOSFETs. Both MOSFET and TLD detectors were calibrated with an X-ray beam equivalent in quality to that of a commercial CT scanner (half-value layer, approximately 7 mm Al at 120 kVp). Organ dose was determined with a scan protocol for pulmonary embolus studies on a 4-MDCT scanner. Measurements for selected organ doses and the percentage difference for TLDs and MOSFETs, respectively, were as follows: thyroid (0.34 cGy, 0.31 cGy, -8%), middle lobe of lung (2.4 cGy, 3.0 cGy, +26%), bone marrow of thoracic spine (2.2 cGy, 2.5 cGy, +11%), stomach (1.0 cGy, 0.93 cGy, -6%), liver (2.5 cGy, 2.6 cGy, +6%), and left breast (3.0 cGy, 2.9 cGy, -1%). Bland-Altman analysis showed that the MOSFET results agreed with the TLD results (bias, 0.042). We found good agreement between the results with the MOSFET and TLD methods. Near-real-time CT organ dose assessment not previously feasible with TLDs was achieved with MOSFETs. MOSFET technology can be used for protocol development in the rapidly changing MDCT scanner environment, in which organ dose data are extremely limited.

Design and validation of a MR-compatible pneumatic manipulandum

The combination of functional MR imaging and novel robotic tools may provide unique opportunities to probe the neural systems underlying motor control and learning. Here, we describe the design and validation of a MR-compatible, 1 degree-of-freedom pneumatic manipulandum along with experiments demonstrating its safety and efficacy. We first validated the robot's ability to apply computer-controlled loads about the wrist, demonstrating that it possesses sufficient bandwidth to simulate torsional spring-like loads during point-to-point flexion movements. Next, we verified the MR-compatibility of the device by imaging a head phantom during robot operation. We observed no systematic differences in two measures of MRI signal quality (signal/noise and field homogeneity) when the robot was introduced into the scanner environment. Likewise, measurements of joint angle and actuator pressure were not adversely affected by scanning. Finally, we verified device efficacy by scanning 20 healthy human subjects performing rapid wrist flexions against a wide range of spring-like loads. We observed a linear relationship between joint torque at peak movement extent and perturbation magnitude, thus demonstrating the robot's ability to simulate spring-like loads in situ. fMRI revealed task-related activation in regions known to contribute to the control of movement including the left primary sensorimotor cortex and right cerebellum.

To Sleep, Perchance to Decode?

To Sleep, Perchance to Decode?

Using PET H 2O 15 brain imaging to study the functional–anatomical correlates of non-human primate communication

In this article, we describe methods for using oxygen-15 water (H 2O 15) positron emission tomography (PET) to explore the functional neuroanatomy of cognition in awake, non-human primates. The discussion is based on a recent study designed to identify regions in the monkey brain associated with perceiving auditory stimuli, and species-specific calls, in particular [Gil-da-Costa et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101 (2004) 17516–17521]. Details are provided concerning critical aspects of the experimental paradigm, including pre-scanning habituation sessions to acclimate the animals to the PET scanner environment, and details of a pilot study to determine the auditory stimulus parameters necessary to produce robust activity in brain regions known to process auditory information (belt and parabelt regions of monkey auditory cortex). Methods for acquiring and analyzing PET data to identify significant regions of brain activity in single animals are also presented.

Evaluation of Cardiac Monitoring Using Fiber Optic Plethysmography

A fiber optic plethysmograph (FOP) has been redesigned and used to monitor cardiac activity in real time during apnoea. The device was tested using four healthy subjects aged between 23 and 31, and it is concluded that the device performs reliably. Advanced algorithms have been developed and implemented to perform the cardiac signal extraction. A strong correlation is noted between the signals derived using the FOP and the respiratory inductive plethysmograph (RIP) when the latter has also been applied to monitor cardiac activity. The approach developed for interpreting thoracocardiograms (TCGs) and abdominocardiograms (ACGs) derived from the RIP is therefore directly applicable to the interpretation of the corresponding FOP signals. The prospect of using the FOP system for real-time gating in a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner environment is discussed.

Resistance-based high resolution recording of predefined 2-dimensional pen trajectories in an fMRI setting

The recent advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a readily accessible neuroimaging method has led to exciting new insights into the functioning of the human motor system. However, technical complications related to the fMRI scanner environment often limit the ability to measure the desired behavioral data reflecting the subjects’ movements. In order to perform kinematic registrations of predefined complex two-dimensional movement patterns while scanning, a new MR-compatible setup has been developed. The method presented here allows the recording of detailed pen tracing data during concurrent functional image acquisition. Essentially, temporally high resolved resistance measurements are used to keep track of the covered distance across time, as applied here to the tracing of various mazes. In this way, the current setup adds the close monitoring of continuous tracing movements to the spectrum of behavioral data which can be successfully obtained in an fMRI setting.

Semantic divergence and creative story generation: An fMRI investigation

The aim of this fMRI investigation was to identify those areas of the brain associated with approaching a story generation task creatively and to investigate the effects upon these correlates of incorporating a set of words that were unrelated to each other—a strategy considered to encourage semantic divergence. Preliminary experiments were undertaken to investigate the possible confounding effects of the scanner environment upon creativity and to reveal the effects of creative effort and word relatedness upon the creativity of those who would be participating in the fMRI scan. In the final part of the investigation, a factorial fMRI design was used to elucidate brain regions involved in increased creative effort and also the effect upon activity in these regions when participants incorporated words that bore little semantic relationship with each other. Results support the notion that areas of the right prefrontal cortex are critical to the types of divergent semantic processing involved with creativity in this context.

Acquisition of typical EEG waveforms during fMRI: SSVEP, LRP, and frontal theta

Recent work has demonstrated the feasibility of simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Virtually no systematic comparisons between EEG recorded inside and outside the MR scanner have been conducted, and it is unknown if different kinds of frequency mix, topography, and domain-specific processing are uniformly recordable within the scanner environment. The aim of the study was to investigate several typical EEG waveforms in the same subjects inside the magnet during fMRI and outside the MR examination room. We examined whether uniform artifact subtraction allows the extraction of these different EEG waveforms inside the scanner during EPI scanning to the same extent as outside the scanner. Three well-established experiments were conducted, eliciting steady state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP), lateralized readiness potentials (LRP), and frontal theta enhancement induced by mental addition. All waveforms could be extracted from the EEG recorded during fMRI. Substantially no differences in these waveforms of interest were found between gradient-switching and intermediate epochs during fMRI (only the SSVEP-experiment was designed for a comparison of gradient—with intermediate epochs), or between waveforms recorded inside the scanner during EPI scanning and outside the MR examination room (all experiments). However, non-specific amplitude differences were found between inside and outside recorded EEG at lateral electrodes, which were not in any interaction with the effects of interest. The source of these differences requires further exploration. The high concordance of activation patterns with published results demonstrates that EPI-images could be acquired during EEG recording without significant distortion.

Methods for functional magnetic resonance imaging in normal and lesioned behaving monkeys

Methods for performing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in behaving and lesioned monkeys using a human MR scanner are reported. Materials for head implant surgery were selected based on tests for magnetic susceptibility. A primate chair with a rigid head fixation system and a mock scanner environment for training were developed. To perform controlled visual studies, monkeys were trained to maintain fixation for several minutes using a novel training technique that utilized continuous juice rewards. A surface coil was used to acquire anatomical and functional images in four monkeys, one with a partial lesion of striate cortex. High-resolution anatomical images were used after non-uniform intensity correction to create cortical surface reconstructions of both lesioned and normal hemispheres. Our methods were confirmed in two visual experiments, in which functional activations were obtained during both free viewing and fixation conditions. In one experiment, face-selective activity was found in the fundus and banks of the superior temporal sulcus and the middle temporal gyrus in monkeys viewing pictures of faces and objects while maintaining fixation. In a second experiment, regions in occipital, parietal, and frontal cortex were activated in lesioned and normal animals viewing a cartoon movie. Importantly, in the animal with the striate lesion, fMRI signals were obtained in the immediate vicinity of the lesion. Our results extend those previously reported by providing a detailed account of the technique and by demonstrating the feasibility of fMRI in monkeys with lesions.

Automated method for extracting response latencies of subject vocalizations in event-related fMRI experiments

For functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of the neural substrates of language, the ability to have subjects performing overt verbal responses while in the scanner environment is important for several reasons. Most directly, overt responses allow the investigator to measure the accuracy and reaction time of the behavior. One problem, however, is that magnetic resonance gradient noise obscures the audio recordings made of voice responses, making it difficult to discern subject responses and to calculate reaction times. ASSERT (Adaptive Spectral Subtraction for Extracting Response Times), an algorithm for removing MR gradient noise from audio recordings of subject responses, is described here. The signal processing improves intelligibility of the responses and also allows automated extraction of reaction times. The ASSERT-derived response times were comparable to manually measured times with a mean difference of −8.75 ms (standard deviation of difference = 26.2 ms). These results support the use of ASSERT for the purpose of extracting response latencies and scoring overt verbal responses.

Automated method for extracting response latencies of subject vocalizations in event-related fMRI experiments

For functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of the neural substrates of language, the ability to have subjects performing overt verbal responses while in the scanner environment is important for several reasons. Most directly, overt responses allow the investigator to measure the accuracy and reaction time of the behavior. One problem, however, is that magnetic resonance gradient noise obscures the audio recordings made of voice responses, making it difficult to discern subject responses and to calculate reaction times. ASSERT (Adaptive Spectral Subtraction for Extracting Response Times), an algorithm for removing MR gradient noise from audio recordings of subject responses, is described here. The signal processing improves intelligibility of the responses and also allows automated extraction of reaction times. The ASSERT-derived response times were comparable to manually measured times with a mean difference of −8.75 ms (standard deviation of difference = 26.2 ms). These results support the use of ASSERT for the purpose of extracting response latencies and scoring overt verbal responses.

A quasi‐Newton reconstruction algorithm for a complex microwave imaging scanner environment

An iterative complex permittivity reconstruction technique for two‐dimensional near‐field imaging is presented. A particular feature of the algorithm is that it takes into account the complicated environment of a circular 434 MHz microwave imaging scanner, which was developed to conduct biomedical imaging experiments. This is accomplished in a computationally efficient way by means of an embedding technique. The reconstruction technique is further based on a quasi‐Newton optimization scheme with approximate line search, in which the Hessian matrix is iteratively updated with the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) formula. This way, second derivative information is exploited to a large extent. The technique is illustrated with complex permittivity reconstructions of homogeneous and inhomogeneous lossy dielectric cylinders of moderate and high contrast from simulated data.

Mapping neural activation to alcohol cues in abstinent alcoholics — variability of behavioural and rCBF responses in the scanner environment

Mapping neural activation to alcohol cues in abstinent alcoholics — variability of behavioural and rCBF responses in the scanner environment

337. Effects of a simulated scanner environment on the auditory evoked P50 potential

While a number of reports have found abnormalities in the suppression of the P50 component of the auditory evoked potential (AEP), the neural systems responsible for its generation and modulation remain unidentified. It is now feasible to address these issues by obtaining high resolution temporal and spatial information by conducting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and evoked potential studies in the same subjects. However, the impact of the scanner environment (e.g. noise) may affect AEP measures such as P50. To examine this, AEPs were recorded from the Cz site (nose reference) of 12 normal subjects in response to paired clicks with a 0.5 sec interstimulus (ISI) and a 10 sec intertrial (ITI) interval in a “mock” scanner environment with and without scanner noise (counterbalanced across subjects) during the ITI. The mock scanner is an enclosure similar to a scanner with a built-in speaker that presents recorded fMRI pulse sequence noise in exact synchronization to stimuli at sound levels comparable to that produced by a real scanner. The onset of scanner noise was 2 sec following the presentation of the second click in a stimulus pair, and the noise continued for 6 sec. This stimulated the “clustered acquisition” scan sequence in which all images within a TR are acquired in a brief period allowing for silence during the remaining time within the TR. AEPs were collected during the silent phase over 100 stimulus trials and subsequently averaged. Analysis of P50 amplitudes showed significant suppression to the second click of a pair (F(1,11) = 34.66, p < .01) although no differences in P50 amplitudes were observed with or without scanner noise. These findings indicate that it is feasible to collect P50 measures in an “acoustically challenged” fMRI environment.

Implantable pulse generators (pacemakers) and electrodes: safety in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner environment.

Static magnetic fields, time-varying electric and magnetic fields, and electromagnetic interference within the magnetic resonance imaging scanner environment can cause the implantable pulse generator (pacemaker) to malfunction and render the electrodes hazardous to the patient. This article provides a review of the literature and of international regulatory guidance concerning safety considerations when these implantable devices are exposed to magnetic resonance imaging.

MR SAFETY AT HIGH MAGNETIC FIELDS

MR imaging requires the exposure of human patients to magnetic fields that are much more intense than ever occur naturally. Under most circumstances, however, these fields do not appear to pose a health or safety risk even at levels well above those currently in clinical use. This margin of safety results from the extreme weakness of the diamagnetic interaction between human tissues and magnetic fields. Ferromagnetic materials, however, present either as implants within the patient or inadvertently introduced into the scanner environment, pose significant risks and must be scrupulously avoided. At very high field strengths, there is evidence for mild sensory effects, such as vertigo and metallic tastes, which do not appear to be harmful.