title: Functional MRI of the thoracic spinal cord during vibration sensation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate that it is possible to acquire accurate functional magnetic resonance images from thoracic spinal cord neurons.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lower thoracic spinal dermatomes (T7-T11) on the right side of the body were mechanically stimulated by vibration for 15 participants. Neuronal responses to vibration sensation were measured in the thoracic spinal cord using a HASTE sequence on a 3 Tesla MRI system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Signal increases were observed in the corresponding lower thoracic spinal cord segments ipsilateral to the side of stimulation in the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to provide proof of principle that functional imaging of the entire thoracic spinal cord is possible, by detecting neuronal activity in the thoracic spinal cord during sensory stimulation using spinal fMRI.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. jennifer.kornelsen@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornelsen
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McIver
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sboto-Frankenstein
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Latta
authors.forename: Boguslaw
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomanek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010141:Pacinian Corpuscles / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult