• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2017

Purpose: To describe technical methods for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study with arterial spin labeling (ASL) compared to blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) technique and discuss the potential of ASL for research and clinical practice. Materials and Methods: Task-based (n = 1) and resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) (n = 20) were performed using ASL and BOLD techniques. Results of both techniques were compared. Results: For task-based fMRI with finger-tapping, the primary motor cortex of the contralateral frontal lobe and the ipsilateral cerebellum were activated by both BOLD and ASL fMRI. For rs-fMRI of sensorimotor network, functional connectivity showed similar results between BOLD and ASL. Conclusion: ASL technique has potential application in clinical and research fields because all brain perfusion imaging, CBF measurement, and rs-fMRI study can be performed in a single acquisition.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.571-574
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• 1997

fMRI, functional MRI introduced recently appears based on the gradient echo technique which is sensitive to the field inhomogeneity developed due to the local susceptibility changes of blood oxygenation and deoxygenation. Common to all the gradient echo techniques is that the signal due to the susceptibility effects is generally decreased with increasing inhomogeneity due to the $T2^*$ effect or conventionally known as blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) effect. It is, also found that the BOLD sensitivity is also dependent on the imaging modes, namely whether the imaging is in axial, or coronal or sagittal mode as well as the directions of the vessels against the main magnetic field. We have, therefore, launched a systematic study of imaging mode dependent signal change or BOLD sensitivity as well as the signal changes due to the tilting angle of the imaging planes. Study has been made or both TRFGE sequence and CGE sequence to compare the distinctions of the each mode since each technique has different sensitivity against susceptibility effect. Method of computation and both the computer simulations and their corresponding experimental results are presented.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 1997

fMRI, functional MRI introduced receently appears based on the gradient echo technique which is sensitive to the field inhomogeneity developed due to the local susceptibility changes of blood oxygenation and deoxygenation. There has been many variants of the basic gradient echo sequence which is sensitive to the local inhomogeniety, among others such as GRASS or SSFP to EPISTAR are the most commonly used gradient echo techniques. Common to all these gradient echo techniques is that the signal due to the susceptibility effects is generally decreased with increasing inhomogeneity due to the $T2^{*}$ effect or conventionally konwn as blood oxygenation level dependent(BOLD) effect. It is, also found that the BOLD sensitivity is also dependent on the imaging modes, namely whether the imaging is in axial, or coronal or sagittal mode as well as the directions of the vessels against the main magnetic field. We have, therefore, launched a systematic study of imaging mode dependent signal change or BOLD sensitivity as well as the signal changes due tothe tilting angle of the imaging planes. Study has been made for both TRFGE sequence and CGE sequence to compare the distinctions of the each mode since each technique has different sensitivity againsst susceptibility effect. Method of computation and both the computer simulations and their corresponding experimental results are presented.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.85-85
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• 2003

Purpose： To investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Materials and methods： The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after stroke. Using 3T MRI scanner, functional MR imaging of the whole brain was peformed in 12 normal healthy subjects during two stimulation paradigms; acupuncture manipulation on GB34 and sham points. This study investigates the activation of the motor cortex elicited by a soft and an intensified stimulation of GB 34.Three different paradigms were carried out to detect any possible modulation of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response in the somatomortor area to motor stimulation through acupuncture.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2013

Purpose : Renal blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI has been used in the evaluation of renal oxygenation. We tried to provide the normal $R2^*$ value of the human kidney with 3.0 T, and evaluated the differences in $R2^*$ values according to gender and location. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers underwent BOLD MRI at 3.0 T. Multi gradient echo-echo planar imaging sequence with seventeen echoes was used. After generation of the $T2^*$ map, the $R2^*$ was calculated. The statistical differences in $R2^*$ values between the cortex and medulla, males and females, and the right and left kidney were analyzed. The regional differences of $R2^*$ within the both kidneys were evaluated respectively. Results: BOLD MRI was successful in all participants. No gross artifact interfered with $R2^*$ measurement. The mean $R2^*$ at 3.0 T was $17.1{\pm}2.60s^{-1}$ in the cortex and $27.7{\pm}4.83s^{-1}$ in the medulla (p < 0.001). The $R2^*$ value in the medulla was significantly higher in the male than female volunteers (p = 0.025). There were no statistical differences of $R2^*$ according to the side and location in the kidney (p = 0.197). Conclusion: Renal BOLD MRI can be efficiently performed with 3.0 T MRI. Renal medullary hypoxia is present in normal volunteers. Our results may be used as reference values in the evaluation of pathologic conditions using BOLD MRI.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.242-247
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine whether the changes of contralateral sensorimotor cortical activation on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can predict the neurological outcome among spinal cord injury (SCI) patients when the great toes are stimulated without notice. Methods : This study enrolled a total of 49 patients with SCI and investigated each patient's preoperative fMRI, postoperative fMRI, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score, and neuropathic pain occurrence. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the change of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response on perioperative fMRI during proprioceptive stimulation with repetitive passive toe movements : 1) patients with a response of contralateral sensorimotor cortical activation in fMRI were categorized; 2) patients with a response in other regions; and 3) patients with no response. Correlation between the result of fMRI and each parameter was analyzed. Results : In fMRI data, ASIA score was likely to show greater improvement in patients in group A compared to those belonging to group B or C (p<0.001). No statistical significance was observed between the result of fMRI and neuropathic pain (p=0.709). However, increase in neuropathic pain in response to the signal change of the ipsilateral frontal lobe on fMRI was statistically significant (p=0.030). Conclusion : When there was change of BOLD response at the contralateral sensorimotor cortex on perioperative fMRI after surgery, relief of neurological symptoms was highly likely for traumatic SCI patients. In addition, development of neuropathic pain was likely to occur when there was change of BOLD response at ipsilateral frontal lobe.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2012

Purpose : To investigate the pharmacologic modulation of motor task-dependent physiologic responses by antiplatelet agent, clopidogrel, during hand motor tasks in healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Ten healthy, right-handed subjects underwent three functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) sessions: one before drug administration, one after high dose drug administration and one after reaching drug steady state. For the motor task fMRI, finger flexion-extension movements were performed. Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast was collected for each subject using a 3.0 T VHi (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, USA) scanner. $T2^*$-weighted echo planar imaging was used for fMRI acquisition. The fMRI data processing and statistical analyses were carried out using SPM2. Results: Second-level analysis revealed significant increases in the extent of activation in the contralateral motor cortex including primary motor area (M1) after drug administration. The number of activated voxels in motor cortex was 173 without drug administration and the number increased to 1049 for high dose condition and 673 for steady-state condition respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the magnitude of BOLD signal change in terms of peak T value. Conclusion: The current results suggest that cerebral motor activity can be modulated by clopidogrel in healthy subjects and that fMRI is highly senstive to evidence such changes.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2010

Purpose : To separate and evaluate the low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signals from the functional magnetic resonance imaging data using sensorimotor active task. Materials and Methods : Twenty female archery players and twenty three control subjects were included in this study. Finger-tapping task consisted of three cycles of right finger tapping, with a subsequent 30 second rest. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) data were collected using $T2^*$-weighted echo planar imaging at a 3.0 T scanner. A 3-D FSPGR T1-weighted images were used for structural reference. Image processing and statistical analyses were performed using SPM5 for active finger-tapping task and GIFT program was used for statistical analyses of low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signal. Results : Both groups showed the activation in the left primary motor cortex and supplemental motor area and in the right cerebellum for right finger-tapping task. ICA analysis using GIFT revealed independent components corresponding to contralateral and ipsilateral sensorimotor network and cognitive-related neural network. Conclusion : The current study demonstrated that the low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signals can be separated from the fMRI data using finger tapping paradigm. Also, it was found that these independent components correspond to spontaneous and coherent neural activity in the primary sensorimotor network and in the motor-cognitive network.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.103-112
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify specific psychological and brain activation responses relating to the processing of negative emotions in patients with alcohol dependency. The authors hypothesized that patients with alcohol dependency would demonstrate the abnormal functioning of brain regions involved in negative emotions. Eleven male patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence in an inpatient alcohol treatment facility and 13 social drinkers with similar demographics were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as they viewed film clips that evoked negative emotions. During exposure to negative emotional stimuli, the control group evinced significantly greater activity in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in comparison to patients with alcohol dependency. Correlation analyses demonstrated a negative association in the relationship between beta values from the right ACC and amygdala in participants classified in the control group. No statistically significant relationship was observed for blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) changes between the two regions in the patient group during the elicitation of negative emotions. On the other hand, patients exhibited a greater activation of the amygdala as negative emotions were induced. These results suggest that alcoholism presents pathophysiology of brain activation that is distinct from the responses of healthy individuals functioning as controls.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2003

Purpose: To investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Methods: The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after stroke. Using 3T MRI scanner, functional MR imaging of the whole brain was performed in 12 normal healthy subjects during two stimulation paradigms; acupuncture manipulation on GB 34 and sham points. This study investigates the activation of the motor cortex elicited by a soft and an intensified stimulation of GB 34. Three different paradigms were carried out to detect any possible modulation of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response in the somatomortor area to motor stimulation through acupuncture. Results: Group analysis from seven individuals showed that bilateral sensorimotor areas (BA 3,4,6 and 7) showed stimulation related BOLD signal contrast of approximately 6% whereas very few areas were activated when sham stimulation is given. Conclusions: The present study shows that acupuncture fMRI study can be safely conducted in 3T MRI environment, and acupuncture stimulation in GB34 modulates the cortical activities of the soma- to motor area in human. The present findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of motor function by acupuncture and form a basis for future investigations of motor modulation circuits in the stroke patients. Acknowledgement: This study was supported by a grant of the Mid and Long Term Nuclear RID Plan Program, Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea.