Imaging of the morphology-function interaction of the brain and oral-maxillo-pharyngeal region

口腔颌咽区参与多种生理功能。本研究利用磁共振成像(MRI)电影、功能磁共振成像(FMRI)和基于体素的形态计量学(VBM)研究了脑和口腔上颌咽区的形态和功能之间可能的相互作用。利用MRI电影对两组受试者的语音功能进行研究。在这两项研究中，定制的电路被连接到1.5T的MRI设备上，以使外部触发脉冲能够控制扫描序列的定时，并为受试者的说话同步提供听觉提示。受试者在耳语中重复元音-辅音-元音音节(即/APA/)，并使用心脏电影的梯度回声序列来测量运行。实验一：不同条件下唇、舌、软腭间相互作用的线性和角度测量。[重复时间(Tr)：120ms、80ms、60ms、40ms、30ms]。同步移动…在所有受试者中都能看到和评估更多的多个发音。受试者之间有个性化的运动模式。在大时间分辨率下观察到软腭线和角度测量的大体变化，而在小时间分辨率下观察到腭咽闭合时的微小变化。因此，MRI电影在口咽功能评价中有一定的应用价值。图像的质量和数据采集所需的时间因参数的不同而不同，例如，应根据临床目标仔细确定。实验2：研究唇间距离(IL)、第二颈椎到舌尖的距离(TA)、第二颈椎到舌根的距离(Tp)和腭咽角(Vp)的时间变化及其相关性。结果发现，IL、TA、TP和VP在个体水平上有一定的时间变化，且与TR值无关，且呈显著正相关。在个体水平上，IL与TA、IL与VP呈显著正相关。提示嘴唇参与了语音功能，舌尖与软腭之间存在着密切的时间关系。此外，我们现在正在收集唇腭裂患者和非唇腭裂患者的fMRI和VBM数据，以确定裂侧与大脑皮层和小脑激活之间的关系。较少

Oral-maxillo-pharyngeal region is involved in many physiological functions. The present study was conducted in searching the possible interaction between morphology and function of the brain and oral-maxillo-pharyngeal region using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) movie, functional MRI (fMRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Two studies were performed in speech function using MRI movie. In both studies, custom-made circuitry was connected to a 1.5T MRI apparatus to enable an external trigger pulse to control the timing of the scanning sequence and to provide an auditory cue for synchronization of the subject's utterance. The subject repeated a vowel-consonant-vowel syllable (i.e., /apa/) in whispers, and the run was measured using a gradient echo sequence for a cardiac cine. Experiment 1 : Linear and angular measurements for the interaction among the lips, tongue and soft palate with different conditions. [repetition time (TR) : 120ms, 80ms, 60ms, 40ms and 30ms]. The simultaneous mov … More ement of multiple articulators was visualized and assessed in all subjects. There were individualized patterns of movement across subjects. Gross changes in linear and angular measurements of the soft palate were observed with large time resolutions, while minute changes were observed with small time resolutions during velopharyngeal closure. It was thus concluded that MRI movie might be useful in the evaluation of oropharyngeal function. The quality of the image and the time required for data acquisition vary according to the parameters, e.g., TR, which should be carefully determined according to the clinical objectives. Experiment 2 : Temporal changes and correlations were studied for the inter-lip distance (IL), distance between the second cervical vertebra and the tip of the tongue (TA), distance between the second cervical vertebra and the base of the tongue (TP) and the velopharyngeal angle (Vp). It was found that the IL, TA, TP and Vp showed given temporal changes in the intra-individual level, and showed significant correlations irrespective of TR. In the inter-individual level, the Il and TA, and the IL and Vp showed significant correlations. It was suggested that the lips are involved in speech function with intimate temporal relationship between the tip of the tongue and soft palate. Furthermore, we are now collecting fMRI and VBM data in subjects with and without cleft lip and palate to determine the relationship between the cleft side and activation of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Less