Abstract #3106

Online brain fMRI using a novel magnetic resonance compatible hand induced robotic device provides accurate monitoring and can be used in rehabilitation

Zeba Qadri^1,2, Loukas Astrakas^1,2, Lawrence Wald², Michael Moskowitz ^2,3, Bruce Rosen², and Aria Tzika^1,2

¹NMR Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, ²Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States, ³Neuroscience Center, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States

Using a hand motor task, we investigated brain activation after chronic stroke by combining fMRI at 3T with a novel MR-compatible hand-induced, robotic device (MR_CHIROD). Patients trained at home using a gel ball; serial neuroimaging was performed before, during, upon completion of training, and after a non-training period, to assess permanence of effects. Training significantly increased the number of activated voxels in the cortex as a function of effort level, suggesting functional cortical plasticity in chronic stroke. The result’s persistence indicates permanence of rehabilitation, which is remarkable given that training is generally effective during a narrow window after stroke.

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