A Device Compatible with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessing Brain Activity During a Finger Force Tracking Motor Task

This project developed a paradigm capable of measuring brain activity using fMRI before and after rehabilitation for hand paralysis. The paradigm is based on a hand motor control task, where subjects alternate between periods of rest and active states. During the active phase, subjects extend their fingers against an MRI-compatible force transducer, which was developed and tested in this project.This project verified that the finger force device was MRI compatible, providedaccurate force measurements with minimal baseline drift, and operated with sufficiently small time delay. The sensor was then compared in an able-bodied subject to a similar position-tracking task from the literature. Force tracking elicited a greater spatial extent of neural activation, and also allowed the user to more accurately follow the visual track. This is the first hand extensor force sensor developed for this application, and can be used longitudinally in a wide range of rehabilitation interventions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Sciences

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biomedical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Thompson, Paul M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Knutson, Jayme
• Tyler, Dustin

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Rehabilitation

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1365005948

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1365005948