title: New devices to deliver somatosensory stimuli during functional MRI.
abstract: A new class of devices are described for improving investigation of somatosensory neuronal activation using fMRI. Dubbed magnetomechanical vibrotactile devices (MVDs), the principle of operation involves driving wire coils with small oscillatory currents in the large static magnetic field inherent to MRI scanners. The resulting Lorentz forces can be oriented to generate large vibrations that are easily converted to translational motions as large as several centimeters. Representative data demonstrate the flexibility of MVDs to generate different well-controlled vibratory and tactile stimuli to activate special proprioceptive and cutaneous somatosensory afferent pathways. The implications of these data are discussed with respect to the literature on existing devices for producing sensorimotor activation, as well as expanding the scope of current fMRI investigations.
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. simon.graham@swchsc.on.ca
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Plewes
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: McIlroy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000295:instrumentation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration