Name: MRI Scanner Setup for Human Visual Functional Imaging
Uploaded: 2023-12-08T12:40:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about MRI Scanner Setup for Human Visual Functional Imaging at JoVE.com

mri scanner setup for human visual functional imaging

Weiterentwicklung des Visual Cortex Mapping für eine verbesserte Bewertung von Sehstörungen

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a valuable method to assess changes in regional neurovascular function within the visual cortex in response to stimuli, as changes in regional blood flow correlate to the activation of brain regions1,2. High-resolution retinotopic blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal measurements represent changes in deoxyhemoglobin, which are driven by localized changes in blood flow and blood oxygenation within the brain1,2. BOLD activity patterns collected from fMRI data can be used to functionally map the peripheral and central visual cortex, as well as detect changes in the retinotopic map in response to visual impairment and neurodegeneration3.
Most previous fMRI studies made use of narrow-view (around &#177;12&#176; of the central visual field) non-retinotopic stimuli or simple retinotopic stimuli with narrow-view visual stimuli, which provided limited functional parcellation of the retinotopic representation in the visual cortex and limited assessment to only the central visual field, excluding the periphery3. Consequently, narrow-view fMRI data has reported inconsistent BOLD percent changes in glaucoma patients4,5,6. There is therefore a need for improved fMRI approaches to assessing the peripheral and central visual field, particularly in the evaluation of diseases such as glaucoma.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting 10% of people by the age of 807. Glaucoma is caused by the progressive, irreversible neurodegeneration of retinal ganglion cells, which are responsible for transmitting visual stimuli to the brain through the optic nerve. In primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common form of glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure causes thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), leading to the loss of peripheral vision followed by peripheral and central blindess8,9,10,11. Histological evidence from animal studies suggests that glaucoma additionally results in progressive neurodegeneration of the optic nerve, optic tract, lateral geniculate nucleus, optic radiation, and visual cortex12,13. MRI technology offers a minimally invasive method of assessing both blood oxygenation and neurodegeneration in the visual cortex. In patients with glaucoma, MRI has found evidence of gray-matter atrophy in the visual pathway13,14,15,16 and abnormal white matter in the optic chiasm, optic tract, and optic radiation1,17,18.
To further explore the effects on visual processing, fMRI can be used to detect brain function in response to visual cues. The protocol herein describes a novel method to obtain a low-cost, wide-view retinotopic map using high-resolution retinotopy fMRI with wide-field (&#62;100&#176;) stimuli, as described by Zhou et al3. Visual stimuli of expanding rings and rotating wedges were used to elicit retinotopic mapping of the eccentricity and polar angle for fMRI. BOLD fMRI percent changes were analyzed as a function of eccentricity to evaluate brain function, corresponding to both central and peripheral vision. The BOLD fMRI percent change may be used to visualize activation throughout the visual cortex. These fMRI measures provide a reliable new method to evaluate neurodegenerative changes and their functional effects on the visual cortex found in eye diseases involving visual field defects, such as glaucoma.

Autor im Rampenlicht: Einblicke in die Forschung des visuellen Kortex durch Wide-View-fMRT-Mapping 

Funktionelle Magnetresonanztomographie (fMRT) der Sehrinde mit retinotopischer Stimulation

This research focuses on providing a practical, cost-effective visual presentation system to evaluate changes in the visual cortex due to ophthalmic diseases. We provide a method to create a wide viewing angle, retina atopic map, using FMRI to assess the functional activity of the visual cortex. A current experimental challenge is that standard systems for presenting visual stimuli for FMRI only cover small area of the visual fields, and with the view partially obstructed by the head coil.This protocol provides method for wide view and unobstructed stimuli that balances cost, efficacy, and precision. Our protocol provides an affordable, moderately wide view of up to a hundred degrees of the visual field. Compared to other techniques, it avoids distortions, additional costs for projector lenses or fiber optic bundles, and other complexities, such as the need for contact lenses.Our findings can be used to expand the understanding of the visual cortex, enabling the mapping of peripheral and central regions via an affordable, wide view FMRI system. This could enhance the management of visual impairments in eye diseases such as glaucoma, which involves dysfunction of the visual system in the brain.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about MRI Scanner Setup for Human Visual Functional Imaging at JoVE.com

MRI Scanner Setup for Human Visual Functional Imaging  

MRT-Scanner-Setup für die visuelle funktionelle Bildgebung beim Menschen

Beginnen Sie mit der Verwendung eines 3T-MRT-Scanners, der mit Mehrkanal-Empfängerkopfspulen für die funktionelle Magnetresonanztomographie ausgestattet ist. Verwenden Sie die hintere Hälfte, um einen größeren Betrachtungswinkel ohne Behinderung zu gewährleisten. Als Nächstes richten Sie eine T1-gewichtete MPRAGE-Sequenz ein, indem Sie eine Wiederholungszeit von 2,2 Sekunden und ein Sichtfeld von 176 x 256 x 208 Millimetern eingeben.Stellen Sie eine räumliche Auflösung von 1 x 1 x 1 Millimeter bereit. Bandbreite von 190 Hertz pro Pixel. Kippwinkel von 13 Grad.Und eine Scandauer von 3,1 Minuten. Richten Sie eine Gradienten-Echo-EPI-Sequenz mit einer Wiederholungszeit von 2 Sekunden, einer Echozeit von 30 Millisekunden, einem Sichtfeld von 220 x 220 Millimetern, einer Auflösung in der Ebene von 1,7 x 1,7 Millimetern mit 29 Schichten von 3 Millimetern Dicke und einer Bandbreite von etwa 1500 Hertz pro Pixel ein. Messen Sie nun die Abmessungen der Kopfspule und der Scannerbohrung.Verbinden Sie dann die PVC-Rohre mit PVC-Bögen, um einen einfachen PVC-Rohrrahmen zu konstruieren, und befestigen Sie mit Nylonschrauben die Enden der Kunststoffstange, die den Spiegel hält, am Rahmen. Beachten Sie, dass der Spiegel mit Kunststoffschrauben an der Kunststoffstange befestigt wird. Achten Sie darauf, dass die Schrauben locker genug sind, damit der Spiegel manuell in einen optimalen Winkel gedreht werden kann.Nachdem Sie eine segmentierte Rückprojektionsleinwand an einen Rahmen geschraubt haben, platzieren Sie die Leinwand auf der Rückseite des Scanners und positionieren Sie sie hinter der Kopfspule, um das Sichtfeld zu maximieren.

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

MRI Scanner Setup for Human Visual Functional Imaging

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation

High-resolution retinotopic blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a wide-view presentation can be ...