Open AccessA new vibrotactile stimulator for functional MRI
Author(s) -
Harrington Gregory S.,
Wright Calvin T.,
Downs J. Hunter
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0193(200007)10:3<140::aid-hbm50>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - scanner , vibration , sensory system , biomedical engineering , neuroscience , acoustics , computer science , physics , psychology , medicine , artificial intelligence
Presenting various stimuli in an MRI scanner can be difficult due to the high magnetic field associated with the scanner. Mechanical vibration stimuli are difficult to deliver to subjects in the MRI environment because most vibration devices contain internal circuitry that can adversely interact with the high magnetic field. Piezoelectric ceramics can provide a solution to this problem since they do not require any internal circuitry to vibrate. Piezoceramics are nonmagnetic and they can be made to vibrate if supplied with an alternating current from a straight wire. We designed a piezoceramic vibrotactile stimulator that is safe and effective in functional MRI experiments. The stimulator was tested in an fMRI experiment at 35 and 150 Hz. The results yielded activation sites in the primary sensory cortex and Brodmann area 40 at both frequencies. Hum. Brain Mapping 10:140–145, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.