Spinal Cord fMRI: A New Window into the Central Nervous System

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human Physiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• The spinal cord, a key component of the central nervous system, is increasingly recognized for its active and plastic nature.
• Despite its significance, spinal cord research is less extensive compared to brain studies within human neuroscience.
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a powerful tool for studying brain function but has been underutilized for spinal cord investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the extension of fMRI techniques to study spinal cord function in humans.
• To explore the potential of spinal cord fMRI in understanding human behaviors and sensorimotor circuits.
• To highlight the application of fMRI in addressing both fundamental and clinical questions related to the spinal cord.

Main Methods:

• Review of proposed strategies and methodologies for overcoming technical challenges in spinal cord fMRI.
• Discussion of existing applications of spinal cord fMRI in neuroscience research.
• Synthesis of guidelines and best practices for conducting spinal cord fMRI studies.

Main Results:

• Successful adaptation of fMRI techniques to image spinal cord activity.
• Demonstration of spinal cord fMRI's capability to provide insights into functional organization of sensorimotor circuits.
• Evidence of spinal cord fMRI's utility in investigating neurological disorders and basic science questions.

Conclusions:

• Spinal cord fMRI is a viable and promising technique for advancing our understanding of the human spinal cord.
• This imaging modality can bridge the gap in research between the brain and spinal cord.
• Further research and application of spinal cord fMRI are encouraged to explore its full potential in neuroscience and clinical settings.