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Published on: November 14, 2018
Behavioral interventions for reducing head motion during MRI scans in children
Deanna J Greene1, Jonathan M Koller2, Jacqueline M Hampton3
1Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, United States; Washington University School of Medicine, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, United States.
Abstract:
A major limitation to structural and functional MRI (fMRI) scans is their susceptibility to head motion artifacts. Even submillimeter movements can systematically distort functional connectivity, morphometric, and diffusion imaging results. In patient care, sedation is often used to minimize head motion, but it incurs increased costs and risks. In research settings, sedation is typically not an ethical option. Therefore, safe methods that reduce head motion are critical for improving MRI quality, especially in high movement individuals such as children and neuropsychiatric patients. We investigated the effects of (1) viewing movies and (2) receiving real-time visual feedback about head movement in 24 children (5-15 years old). Children completed fMRI scans during which they viewed a fixation cross (i.e., rest) or a cartoon movie clip, and during some of the scans they also received real-time visual feedback about head motion. Head motion was significantly reduced during movie watching compared to rest and when receiving feedback compared to receiving no feedback. However, these results depended on age, such that the effects were largely driven by the younger children. Children older than 10 years showed no significant benefit. We also found that viewing movies significantly altered the functional connectivity of fMRI data, suggesting that fMRI scans during movies cannot be equated to standard resting-state fMRI scans. The implications of these results are twofold: (1) given the reduction in head motion with behavioral interventions, these methods should be tried first for all clinical and structural MRIs in lieu of sedation; and (2) for fMRI research scans, these methods can reduce head motion in certain groups, but investigators must keep in mind the effects on functional MRI data.
Insights
Movie watching and head motion feedback reduce MRI motion artifacts in children. These behavioral interventions are effective for younger children, offering a safer alternative to sedation for improving scan quality.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Neuroimaging
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Head motion is a significant limitation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), distorting structural and functional connectivity results.
- Sedation to mitigate motion in patients incurs costs and risks, and is not ethically viable in research settings.
- Developing safe, non-sedative methods to reduce head motion is crucial for improving MRI quality, particularly in pediatric and neuropsychiatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of movie viewing and real-time visual feedback in reducing head motion during MRI scans in children.
- To determine the age-dependency of these behavioral interventions' effectiveness.
- To assess the impact of these interventions on functional MRI data.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-four children (5-15 years old) underwent functional MRI (fMRI) scans under various conditions: rest, movie viewing, and real-time head motion feedback.
- Head motion was quantified during each scanning condition.
- Functional connectivity was analyzed to assess the impact of movie viewing on fMRI data.
Main Results:
- Both movie watching and real-time feedback significantly reduced head motion compared to rest and no feedback, respectively.
- The benefits of these interventions were primarily observed in younger children (under 10 years); older children showed no significant improvement.
- Movie viewing altered functional connectivity, indicating that movie-based fMRI scans differ from standard resting-state scans.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral interventions like movie viewing and head motion feedback are effective, safe alternatives to sedation for reducing motion artifacts in pediatric MRI.
- These methods are most beneficial for younger children, suggesting tailored approaches may be needed for older individuals.
- While effective for motion reduction in specific groups, movie-based fMRI requires careful consideration due to its impact on functional connectivity data.
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