Mapping Hand Function in the Brain and Spinal Cord with Simultaneous Brain-Spinal Cord Functional MRI

Motivation: Hand function can be disrupted by injury to the brain, SC, and peripheral nerves leading to weakness and impaired coordination. With simultaneous brain-spinal cord (SC) fMRI, we can non-invasively assess the neural mechanisms underlying motor control of the hand. Goal(s): Map brain and SC activity to improve our understanding of the neural correlates of hand function. Approach: Simultaneous brain-SC fMRI was performed on twenty-eight healthy volunteers during force matching and finger tapping experiments with three task levels. Results: Graded brain and SC activity across the task levels was identified, including activation and deactivation of sensory and motor regions. Impact: We mapped brain and SC neural correlates of hand function showing activations and deactivations in sensory and motor regions, providing a more complete picture of motor control.