title: Investigation of fMRI activation in the internal capsule.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in white matter has long been considered controversial. Recently, this viewpoint has been challenged by an emerging body of evidence demonstrating white matter activation in the corpus callosum. The current study aimed to determine whether white matter activation could be detected outside of the corpus callosum, in the internal capsule. Data were acquired from a 4 T MRI using a specialized asymmetric spin echo spiral sequence. A motor task was selected to elicit activation in the posterior limb of the internal capsule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  White matter fMRI activation was examined at the individual and group levels. Analyses revealed that activation was present in the posterior limb of the internal capsule in 80% of participants. These results provide further support for white matter fMRI activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability to visualize functionally active tracts has strong implications for the basic scientific study of connectivity and the clinical assessment of white matter disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biodiagnostics, National Research Council, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Jodie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gawryluk
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mazerolle
authors.forename: Kimberley D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Beyea
authors.forename: Ryan C N
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: D'Arcy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020772:Internal Capsule / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*