FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF MOTOR CORTEX STIMULATION INDUCED BY RIGHT THUMB MOVEMENT USING 1.5 TESLA ROUTINE MRI SYSTEM

In this paper we present the effects of activation of motor cortex on functional Magnetic Resonance images (fMRI) for a healthy volunteer. This experiment was performed using a routine gradient system of a 1.5 Tesla MR unit. Shimming of magnetic field was done in order to obtain a suitable homogeneity of the field prior to data acquisition. Gradient echo protocol was used and modified based on the requirements for a T2* sensitive technique. Motor cortex activation was carried out using thumb movement in a L-shape plastic frame toward various directions, up, down, left, and right. Series of rest and activation images were analyzed using SPM (Statistical Parametric Mapping) program as is achieved by other researcher on PET/fMRI studies. Functional imaging using the designed protocol showed an increase of image intensity in the gray matter associated to motor and sense cortex. An increased intensity of about 2% was obtained in the correlation coefficient test results. Consequently, the feasibility of doing fMRI studies was confirmed using a routine 1.5 Tesla MRI system.