A computerized tablet with visual feedback of hand position for functional magnetic resonance imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human Factors Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Neuropsychological tests involving handwriting are crucial for detecting brain dysfunction.
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can enhance test specificity but faces engineering challenges with traditional methods.
• Existing fMRI-compatible tablet systems lacked visual feedback of hand position (VFHP), a potentially vital component for certain patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an fMRI-compatible tablet system with real-time visual feedback of hand position (VFHP).
• To assess the impact of VFHP on handwriting performance and neural resource utilization during fMRI.

Main Methods:

• Development of a real-time VFHP system integrated into an fMRI-compatible tablet with an augmented reality display.
• Testing with healthy adults performing handwriting tasks with and without VFHP.
• Pilot fMRI studies on two individuals performing writing tasks under both VFHP conditions.

Main Results:

• Quantitative analysis showed improved handwriting performance when using VFHP.
• Pilot fMRI data suggested reduced neural resource requirements for writing with VFHP compared to without.
• The system demonstrated feasibility for use in fMRI studies.

Conclusions:

• The fMRI-compatible tablet system with VFHP enhances handwriting performance and potentially reduces cognitive load during imaging.
• This technology is recommended for future fMRI studies involving patients with brain impairments.
• VFHP is a critical human factors component for ecologically valid behavioral assessments in neuroimaging.