Wearable RF-EEG Cap for closed loopTMS/fMRI/EEG Applications

项目摘要 功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）是基础研究和临床功能性神经成像的主要方法， 人类最先进的功能磁共振成像技术背后的一个关键部件是多通道射频（RF）接收线圈 该技术能够实现并行成像加速，以提高空间和时间分辨率。但是，在这方面， 这些成像线圈通常制造在硬头盔形塑料底盘上。这构成了一个关键的 功能磁共振成像与其他非侵入性脑成像和刺激相结合的多模式方法的屏障 方法，如脑电图（EEG）和经颅磁模拟（TMS）。虽然无价 对于大脑表层和深层结构的高分辨率大规模成像，fMRI是一种间接的方法， 神经元活动的测量：通过测量血液动力学变化评估脑功能 由局部神经元活动驱动因此，联合收割机与TMS相结合的研究方法将极大地 受益于同时还记录EEG以获得脑电的直接神经生理学测量的能力。 潜在的脑电活动具体来说，同时获得EEG数据的可用性将有助于 我们（i）解决TMS诱导的网络级大脑变化机制的基本问题 激活，以及（ii）能够实现用于个体定制的治疗方案的闭环治疗应用。 我们建议克服联合非侵入性刺激（TMS）的关键技术障碍， 多模态成像（EEG-fMRI）通过应用灵活的RF线圈技术。我们的首要目标是建立和测试 首个兼容TMS的集成多模态成像阵列，即“RF-EEG帽”， 功能磁共振成像和脑电图采集与经颅磁刺激同时进行。为了实现这一目标，我们将采用灵活的TMS兼容RF 线圈元件缝到专门定制的帽上，直接与商用MRI兼容EEG帽集成。 与MRI兼容的TMS线圈结合使用，以调节正在进行的大脑活动，该系统将使 研究大脑区域之间的因果关系非侵入性与前所未有的时空 解决方案，从而有助于实现BRAIN倡议的主要目标之一。该项目利用广泛的 团队导师和合作者在射频线圈设计和TMS/多模式成像领域的知识 以及MGH/Martinos中心的MR兼容TMS和EEG系统的可用性。候选人的目标是 以实现所需的技能，推出她的独立的长期研究计划，发展多式联运 TMS/EEG/fMRI仪器，并将这些方法应用于人脑研究。拟议 该项目将补充候选人在设计和构建TMS兼容MRI方面的强大专业知识 硬件.主要的培训内容是：1）扩展申请人的RF工程技能，以优化 提出的柔性RF线圈技术和2）促进她的同时多模式神经成像/刺激 领导使用EEG/fMRI/EEG测试人类神经科学假设的项目的专业知识。

Project Summary Functional MRI (fMRI) is the prevailing method for both basic research and clinical functional neuroimaging in humans. A key component behind state-of-the-art fMRI is the multichannel radio frequency (RF) receive coil technology, which enables parallel imaging acceleration for improved spatial and temporal resolution. However, these imaging coils are usually fabricated on a hard helmet-shaped plastic chassis. This constitutes a critical barrier for multimodal approaches combining fMRI with other non-invasive brain imaging and stimulation methods such as electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS). While invaluable for large-scale imaging of both superficial and deep brain structures with high resolution, fMRI is an indirect measure of neuronal activity: it assesses brain function through the measurement of hemodynamic changes driven by local neuronal activity. Therefore, research approaches that combine fMRI with TMS would greatly benefit from the capability to concurrently also record EEG to obtain a direct neurophysiological measure of the underlying electrical brain activity. Specifically, the availability of simultaneously acquired EEG data would help us to (i) address fundamental questions on the mechanisms of TMS-induced changes in network-level brain activations and (ii) enable closed loop therapeutic applications for individually tailored treatment protocols. We propose to overcome the critical technological barriers for combined non-invasive stimulation (TMS) and multimodal imaging (EEG-fMRI) by applying flexible RF coil technology. Our overarching goal is to build and test a first-of-its-kind TMS compatible integrated multimodal imaging array, a “RF-EEG cap”, to allow simultaneous fMRI and EEG acquisition concurrently with TMS. To achieve this, we will employ flexible TMS-compatible RF coil elements sewed to a specifically tailored cap directly integrated with a commercial MRI compatible EEG cap. Used in conjunction with an MRI-compatible TMS coil to modulate ongoing brain activity, the system will enable studies of causal relationships between brain regions noninvasively with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, thus contributing to one of the main goals of the BRAIN Initiative. The project utilizes the extensive knowledge of the team mentors and collaborators in the fields of RF coil design and TMS/multimodal imaging and the availability of MR compatible TMS and EEG systems at MGH/Martinos Center. The candidate’s goal is to achieve the skills needed to launch her independent long-term research program on developing multimodal TMS/EEG/fMRI instrumentation and applying these methods in studies on the human brain. The proposed project will complement the candidate's strong prior expertise in designing and building TMS-compatible MRI hardware. The main training elements are 1) to extend the applicant's RF engineering skills to optimize the proposed flexible RF coil technology and 2) to advance her simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging/stimulation expertise for leading projects that use EEG/fMRI/EEG to test human neuroscience hypotheses.