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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Evaluation of Motor Impairment in C. elegans Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: September 2, 2021
Functional magnetic resonance imaging of human motor unit fasciculation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Roger G Whittaker1, Paola Porcari2, Luis Braz3
1Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
A novel diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging protocol sensitive to contraction of individual skeletal motor units was developed. We applied this technique to the lower limb muscles of 4 patients with confirmed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 6 healthy controls. A 3-minute scan revealed florid fasciculation in ALS patients, involving both superficial and deep muscles, and at a frequency higher than in healthy controls. This novel imaging technique reveals hitherto unobtainable information on human motor unit structure and function, which may allow earlier diagnosis and recruitment to clinical trials. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:455-459.
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