Functional MR imaging of the cervical spinal cord by use of 20Hz functional electrical stimulation to median nerve.
OBJECTIVE
Functional MR imaging of the human cervical spinal cord was carried out on volunteers by 20Hz functional electrical stimulation to median nerve, in order to detect signal changes arising concomitant to neuronal activity.


METHODS
Functional MR imaging data were acquired in six subjects with single-shot fast spin-echo sequence (SSFSE) on a 1.5T GE Clinical System. Cervical spinal cord activation was measured both in the sagittal and transverse imaging planes. Postprocessing was performed by AFNI (Analysis of Functional Neuroimages) software system.


RESULTS
Activation correlated with the time course of stimulation was consistently detected in both sagittal and transverse imaging planes of the cervical spinal cord. Regions of the spinal cord associated with motor and pain response were observed by 20Hz functional electrical stimulation to the median nerve.


CONCLUSIONS
The functional MR imaging signal can be detected in the human cervical spinal cord with functional electrical stimulation. Investigating the FES response in the spinal cord using the spinal fMRI will be helpful for the further discussion on the diagnosis and functional recovery to spinal cord diseases.
Xie
Chu-hai
CH
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital to Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China 515041.
Kong
Kang-mei
KM
Guan
Ji-tian
JT
Chen
Ye-xi
YX
Wu
Ren-hua
RH
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*