An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography
Background Intra-neural microstimulation (INMS) is a technique that allows the precise delivery of low-current electrical pulses into human peripheral nerves. Single unit INMS can be used to stimulate individual afferent nerve fibres during microneurography. Combining this with neuroimaging allow...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44565/ |
| _version_ | 1848796946042454016 |
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| author | Glover, Paul M. Watkins, Roger H. O’Neill, George C. Ackerley, Rochelle M. Sánchez-Panchuelo, Rosa-Maria McGlone, Francis Brookes, Matthew J. Wessberg, Johan Francis, Susan T. |
| author_facet | Glover, Paul M. Watkins, Roger H. O’Neill, George C. Ackerley, Rochelle M. Sánchez-Panchuelo, Rosa-Maria McGlone, Francis Brookes, Matthew J. Wessberg, Johan Francis, Susan T. |
| author_sort | Glover, Paul M. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background
Intra-neural microstimulation (INMS) is a technique that allows the precise delivery of low-current electrical pulses into human peripheral nerves. Single unit INMS can be used to stimulate individual afferent nerve fibres during microneurography. Combining this with neuroimaging allows the unique monitoring of central nervous system activation in response to unitary, controlled tactile input, with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) providing exquisite spatial localisation of brain activity and magnetoencephalography (MEG) high temporal resolution.
New method
INMS systems suitable for use within electrophysiology laboratories have been available for many years. We describe an INMS system specifically designed to provide compatibility with both ultra-high field (7 T) fMRI and MEG. Numerous technical and safety issues are addressed. The system is fully analogue, allowing for arbitrary frequency and amplitude INMS stimulation.
Results
Unitary recordings obtained within both the MRI and MEG screened-room environments are comparable with those obtained in ‘clean’ electrophysiology recording environments. Single unit INMS (current <7 μA, 200 μs pulses) of individual mechanoreceptive afferents produces appropriate and robust responses during fMRI and MEG.
Comparison with existing method(s)
This custom-built MRI- and MEG-compatible stimulator overcomes issues with existing INMS approaches; it allows well-controlled switching between recording and stimulus mode, prevents electrical shocks because of long cable lengths, permits unlimited patterns of stimulation, and provides a system with improved work-flow and participant comfort.
Conclusions
We demonstrate that the requirements for an INMS-integrated system, which can be used with both fMRI and MEG imaging systems, have been fully met. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:56:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-44565 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:56:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-445652024-08-15T15:24:17Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44565/ An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography Glover, Paul M. Watkins, Roger H. O’Neill, George C. Ackerley, Rochelle M. Sánchez-Panchuelo, Rosa-Maria McGlone, Francis Brookes, Matthew J. Wessberg, Johan Francis, Susan T. Background Intra-neural microstimulation (INMS) is a technique that allows the precise delivery of low-current electrical pulses into human peripheral nerves. Single unit INMS can be used to stimulate individual afferent nerve fibres during microneurography. Combining this with neuroimaging allows the unique monitoring of central nervous system activation in response to unitary, controlled tactile input, with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) providing exquisite spatial localisation of brain activity and magnetoencephalography (MEG) high temporal resolution. New method INMS systems suitable for use within electrophysiology laboratories have been available for many years. We describe an INMS system specifically designed to provide compatibility with both ultra-high field (7 T) fMRI and MEG. Numerous technical and safety issues are addressed. The system is fully analogue, allowing for arbitrary frequency and amplitude INMS stimulation. Results Unitary recordings obtained within both the MRI and MEG screened-room environments are comparable with those obtained in ‘clean’ electrophysiology recording environments. Single unit INMS (current <7 μA, 200 μs pulses) of individual mechanoreceptive afferents produces appropriate and robust responses during fMRI and MEG. Comparison with existing method(s) This custom-built MRI- and MEG-compatible stimulator overcomes issues with existing INMS approaches; it allows well-controlled switching between recording and stimulus mode, prevents electrical shocks because of long cable lengths, permits unlimited patterns of stimulation, and provides a system with improved work-flow and participant comfort. Conclusions We demonstrate that the requirements for an INMS-integrated system, which can be used with both fMRI and MEG imaging systems, have been fully met. Elsevier 2017-10-01 Article PeerReviewed Glover, Paul M., Watkins, Roger H., O’Neill, George C., Ackerley, Rochelle M., Sánchez-Panchuelo, Rosa-Maria, McGlone, Francis, Brookes, Matthew J., Wessberg, Johan and Francis, Susan T. (2017) An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 290 . pp. 69-78. ISSN 1872-678X Instrumentation Stimulus generation Low-noise amplifier Nerve stimulation Magnetoencephalography Functional magnetic resonance imaging Ultra-high magnetic field Human Microneurography Tactile Touch Low-threshold mechanoreceptor https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.07.016 doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.07.016 doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.07.016 |
| spellingShingle | Instrumentation Stimulus generation Low-noise amplifier Nerve stimulation Magnetoencephalography Functional magnetic resonance imaging Ultra-high magnetic field Human Microneurography Tactile Touch Low-threshold mechanoreceptor Glover, Paul M. Watkins, Roger H. O’Neill, George C. Ackerley, Rochelle M. Sánchez-Panchuelo, Rosa-Maria McGlone, Francis Brookes, Matthew J. Wessberg, Johan Francis, Susan T. An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography |
| title | An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography |
| title_full | An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography |
| title_fullStr | An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography |
| title_full_unstemmed | An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography |
| title_short | An intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography |
| title_sort | intra-neural microstimulation system for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography |
| topic | Instrumentation Stimulus generation Low-noise amplifier Nerve stimulation Magnetoencephalography Functional magnetic resonance imaging Ultra-high magnetic field Human Microneurography Tactile Touch Low-threshold mechanoreceptor |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44565/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44565/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44565/ |