DocumentCode :
3601652
Title :
A Non-Magnetic Rotating Disk Stimulator for the Study of Neuromagnetic Correlates of Sensorimotor Interaction
Author :
Broser, Philip J. ; Moor, Veronika ; Braun, Christoph
Author_Institution :
Dept. for Neuropediatrics, Univ. Children´s Hosp., Tubingen, Germany
Volume :
23
Issue :
6
fYear :
2015
Firstpage :
1078
Lastpage :
1084
Abstract :
Fine motor skills in humans require close interaction between the motor and the sensory systems. It is still not fully understood, how sensory feedback modulates motor commands. This is due to the fact, that there is no approach for investigating the sensorimotor cortical-interaction in sufficient detail. The fast and precise communication between the sensory and motor-systems requires measurements of cortical activity with high temporal and spatial resolution. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is capable of both. Previously, we showed that sensory responses, can be observed by repetitive tactile stimulation. Further, motor cortex responses can be generated by periodical increase and decrease of muscle tone. Utilizing both observations we have designed an MEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible stimulator allowing for the study of brain activity related to sensorimotor integration. The stimulator consists of a rotating disk with an elevation such that subject senses with his finger the speed of the disk. With the force applied by the finger onto the disk, the subject can control its speed. During the experiment the subject is asked to keep the speed of the disk constant while the driving torque is systematically manipulated. This closed-loop design is especially useful to analyze the fast and continuous information flow between the two systems. In a single case pilot study using MEG, we could show that a detailed analysis of the sensorimotor-network is possible. In contrast to existing paradigms this setup allows separate time-locked analysis of the sensory- and motor-component independently and therefore the calculation of latency parameters for both systems. In the future this method will help to understand the interaction between the two systems in much greater detail.
Keywords :
biomedical MRI; closed loop systems; magnetoencephalography; medical signal processing; muscle; neurophysiology; spatiotemporal phenomena; torque; MEG; MRI; brain activity; closed-loop design; continuous information flow; cortical activity; disk constant; driving torque; fine motor skills; high-temporal-spatial resolution; latency parameters; magnetic resonance imaging compatible stimulator; magnetoencephalography; motor commands; motor-sensory system interaction; muscle tone; neuromagnetic correlates; nonmagnetic rotating disk stimulator; repetitive tactile stimulation; sensorimotor cortical-interaction; sensorimotor integration; sensorimotor interaction; sensory feedback; separate time-locked analysis; Brain; Engines; Magnetic noise; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic shielding; Neurons; Diagnostic tool for sensorimotor impairments; high precision force feedback; high precision spatial and temporal measurement of brain function; high precision tactile stimulation; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); magnetoencephalography (MEG); no-magnetic pneumatically driven engine; rotating disk stimulator; setup for the study of sensorimotor interaction;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
1534-4320
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TNSRE.2015.2414482
Filename :
7065296
Link To Document :
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