Investigation of fMRI in the Presence of Jaw Motion

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的广泛，长期目标是确定最佳MRI脉冲序列以及数据分析技术，以允许在下颌和舌头运动的情况下进行fMRI研究。一些与健康有关的研究课题将受益于这些知识。这可以直接应用于研究的一个领域是与咀嚼期间颞下颌关节（TMJ）疼痛相关的神经因素的研究。此外，对语言障碍患者的神经科学研究可以从在MRI机器内进行受试者说话的功能MRI实验中受益匪浅。然而，由于运动引起的静磁场的变化，使得在颌骨运动情况下的脑部快速MR成像受到几何和强度失真的困扰，而组织/空气和组织/骨界面的动态调制又会导致磁场不均匀性的变化。在纠正这些问题方面已取得初步进展。需要进一步的研究来改进所使用的脉冲序列和数据分析技术，并找到一个最佳的解决方案，从事功能磁共振成像研究中存在的下巴和舌头的运动。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad, long-term objective of this project is to determine the best MRI pulse sequence as well as data-analysis techniques to allow fMRI studies in the presence of jaw and tongue motion. Several health-related research topics will benefit from this knowledge. One area of research to which this can be directly applied is the study of the neurological factors related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain during chewing. Moreover, neuroscience studies of patients with speaking disorders can greatly benefit from the ability to run fMRI experiments of subjects speaking inside an MRI machine. Heretofore, rapid MR imaging of the brain in the presence of jaw motion has been plagued by geometric and intensity distortions due to the alteration of the static magnetic field caused by motion.The magnetic field inhomogeneity changes because of dynamic modulation of tissue/air and tissue/bone interfaces. Initial progress has been made to correct these problems. Further research is needed to improve the pulse sequence and the data-analysis techniques used and to find an optimum solution for engaging in fMRI research in the presence of jaw and tongue motion.