Comparison of Externally and Self-Initiated Movements

Voluntary movements are divided into two categories, one is externally triggered movement and the other is self-initiated movement. The underlying neural mechanisms in each movement have been investigated, but they are not fully understood. The present study is aimed to understand the neural mechanisms, especially aimed to find out the commonly devoted brain area for the categorized movements. By obtaining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals during triggered movement tasks designed from 3 input triggers of different modalities (visual, auditory, and somatosensory) and 3 output movements of different body parts (right hand, left hand, and right foot), we will determine the brain regions specially devoted for each input or output, and commonly devoted for triggered movements. By obtaining fMRI signals during spontaneous voluntary movement tasks designed from 3 output movements of the same body parts, we will determine the brain regions specially devoted for specific execution and commonly devoted for the voluntarily chosen movements.

Inclusion criteria

Normal volunteers will be included. Normal volunteers will be recruited from people who are registered as HMCS Normal Volunteers. All subjects participating in MR studies should have a valid Clinical Center Medical Record Number.

Exclusion criteria

We will not scan pregnant women because safety of high magnetic field to fetus is not established. Therefore, we will administer a urine pregnancy test for any female subjects of childbearing potential prior to functional MRI scan. If the result from a urine pregnancy test is not available for some reason, a medical doctor will judge based on the proper information prior to the scanning.