A Functional MRI-Compatible Apparatus for Investigations of Brain Activity during Simulated Walking

Understanding brain activity during walking and imagined walking is critical for accurate design of brain computer interfaces (BCIs) for patients with limited or no mobility. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has great potential for this purpose; however, during imaging, subjects must remain in a supine position, which limits studies to simple leg movements that minimize head motion such that fMRI data are not contaminated by signal artifacts. Here, we describe the design and testing of an MR-compatible apparatus that allows subjects to perform leg movements that closely resemble the kinematics of normal walking with minimal head motion.