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Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain
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An fMRI compatible wrist robotic interface to study brain development in neonates.

A G Allievi1, A Melendez-Calderon, T Arichi

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, South Kensington Campus, London, UK. alessandro.allievi06@imperial.ac.uk

Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|March 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed an MR-safe robot to study brain activity in premature infants using functional MRI (fMRI). This innovation enables objective assessment of somatosensory and motor development in newborns, aiding future therapies.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Medical Engineering

Background:

  • Understanding infant brain development is vital for early interventions.
  • Standard functional MRI (fMRI) techniques are challenging to apply to newborns and premature infants.
  • Novel methods are needed to study brain activity in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate an MR-safe robot for stimulating wrist movements in infants.
  • To investigate functional brain activity related to spontaneous and induced wrist movements in premature infants using fMRI.
  • To enable objective fMRI studies of somatosensory and motor system development.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a novel MR-safe wrist stimulating robot.
  • Validation of the robot's ability to detect cortical activity in adult subjects using fMRI.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

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  • Application of the robot in fMRI studies of preterm infants to assess brain responses to passive and spontaneous wrist movements.

    • Main Results:

    • The robot reliably identified cortical activity associated with finger movements in an adult.
    • Passive wrist movements in preterm infants induced localized positive Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent (BOLD) responses in the somatosensory cortex.
    • Spontaneous wrist movements in a preterm infant showed activity in the primary motor cortex.

    Conclusions:

    • The developed MR-safe robot is a valuable tool for objective fMRI studies of infant brain development.
    • This technology facilitates detailed investigation of the somatosensory and motor systems in premature infants.
    • The findings support the potential for improved understanding and treatment of neonatal brain injury.