Functional MRI study: passive motor paradigm in the assessment of sensorimotor system

The fMRI study of 7 healthy volunteers was performed to evaluate the neuron networks of sensorimotor system during active and passive movements of the left and right index fingers. While performing all the tasks, the predominant activation of primary sensorimotor, premotor, supplementary motor areas, secondary sensory zones were shown on the contralateral side, as well as ipsilateral cerebellar activation. It was demonstrated that brain activation areas in both types of paradigm were corresponding, as well as the activation clusters size, amplitude and voxel coordinates, with the maximum values in the primary motor and sensory cortex. These results allow recommending the paradigm of passive index finger movements in given rate for the evaluation of sensorimotor system in patients with movement disorders.