MRI-compatible tactile orientation stimulator to investigate neural mechanisms of tactile orientation discrimination

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the most recently developed forms of neuro imaging, uses MRI to measure the haemodynamic response related to neural activity. In this study, we developed a tactile orientation system using under high magnetic environment. The device is MRI-compatible and can serve to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms of tactile orientation discrimination. The primary components of the tactile orientation presentation system include a computer, five tactile orientation domes, two ultrasonic motors, a motor controller and a reaction key. We evaluated the function and precision of system in a magnetic field. The results showed that the device performance is unaffected by the magnetic field, nor does the device interfere with the magnetic field, making it usable with fMRI. Furthermore, a tactile orientation discrimination fMRI experiment was conducted using the system. Compared to the baseline, the most prominent activation areas evoked by the discrimination tasks were in the bilateral primary and secondary somatosensory area, medial frontal gyrus, posterior parietal cortex and lateral occipital complex. In summary, these results indicated that the brain activation can be reliably detected with the present device.