A guide to peripheral physiology measurements using
the BrainAmp ExG MR – Part 1: Let’s focus on EMG

by Dr. Tracy Warbrick (Brain Products Application Specialist EEG-fMRI)
and Dr. Robert Stoermer (Brain Products Head of Technical Support)

Abstract

Measuring peripheral physiological signals during fMRI can add valuable information about physiological processes to your studies. Our BrainAmp ExG MR can be used to record bipolar signals such as surface EMG and ECG, and signals from peripheral physiology sensors measuring GSR, respiration, or acceleration can be recorded using auxiliary channels.

In a series of support tips, we will provide safety advice and methodological know-how that will help you to successfully record physiological signals in the MR environment with your BrainAmp ExG MR. The support tips will cover general considerations for ExG-fMRI measurements and then we will focus on specific measurements such as surface EMG, ECG, and sensors for peripheral physiology.

Introduction

Multimodal brain imaging studies using EEG and fMRI are very popular due to the advantage of simultaneous measurements using different temporal and spatial scales. Measuring physiological signals other than EEG during fMRI can also be valuable and can provide an insight into physiological processes that occur in parallel to changes in brain activity. For example, measures of arousal or muscle movements could provide complementary data. Our BrainAmp ExG MR can be used to record peripheral physiology signals alongside your EEG or as a standalone measurement. The BrainAmp ExG MR is a bipolar amplifier which means that the potential difference between a pair of electrodes is measured. This contrasts with the referential measurement principle used in our BrainAmp MR (plus) where the potential difference between each EEG electrode and a single reference electrode is measured. The 8-channel BrainAmp ExG MR has eight bipolar channels for signals such as surface EMG (sEMG), ECG, and EOG. The 16-channel BrainAmp ExG MR has eight bipolar channels and eight auxiliary channels. The auxiliary channels allow input from peripheral physiology sensors measuring GSR, respiration, or acceleration.

Recording high quality ExG data in the MR environment starts with good preparation, an optimal setup, and sufficient pilot testing. Therefore, in this series of support tips we will provide advice on how to safely setup ExG measurements in the scanner and share our methodological know-how to help you successfully record physiological signals in the MR environment with your BrainAmp ExG MR. In this first support tip we start with general considerations for ExG-fMRI measurements and then focus on sEMG-fMRI. In forthcoming articles, we will cover ECG-fMRI, using peripheral physiology sensors in the MR environment, and special applications using the BrainAmp ExG MR.

Overview

1. Safety

1.1. General safety considerations for ExG-fMRI measurements

All recommendations that we make throughout this support tip apply to measurements in MRI scanners up to 3 T and the safety guidelines and conditions for use should always be followed. You can find further information on our website. In the MR environment the BrainAmp ExG MR should only be used together with the ExG AUX Box (Figure 1) and special MR conditional electrodes and sensors (Figure 2).

For bipolar measurements (e.g. sEMG, ECG) Multitrode MR electrodes should be used because they have some special features that make them suitable for use in the MR environment: they have a current-limiting resistor, they are an incomplete ring to avoid induced eddy currents, and are bundled in a spiral tube so that the lead wire cannot come into direct contact with the participant (Figure 3). The Multitrode MR electrodes are intended for surface EMG and all recommendation that we provide in this article are for sEMG. For polygraphic signals we have three MR conditional auxiliary sensors: GSR MR Sensor, 3 D Acceleration Sensor MR, and Respiration Belt MR.

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Figure 1: 16-channel BrainAmp ExG MR including ExG AUX box for connecting electrodes and sensors.

A guide to peripheral physiology measurements using the BrainAmp ExG MR – Part 1: Let’s focus on EMG

Figure 2 (left): The MR conditional sensors available for measuring peripheral physiology in the MR environment with the BrainAmp ExG MR. A. GSR MR, B. 3 D Acceleration Sensor MR, C. Respiration Belt MR, D. Multitrode MR (bound pair and single). Figure 3 (right): The Multitrode MR in detail, a bound pair of multitrodes is shown. A. incomplete ring to avoid induced eddy current, B. Current limiting resistor, C. Resistor value labels, D. MR conditional label, E. Plastic spiral tubing to prevent the lead wire having direct contact with the participant and to bind pairs of Multitrodes together.

The BrainAmp ExG MR should be placed at the foot end of the scanner bed for peripheral physiology measurements. By placing the BrainAmp ExG MR in the position shown in Figure 4, you can avoid routing electrode lead wires up the participant’s body and through the scanner bore towards the head and head coil. This minimises the safety risk that would be caused by running long cables through scanner bore and RF transmit field, and can also reduce negative effects on data quality, for example, cables routed over the trunk could pick up respiration movements and contaminate your signal of interest.

A guide to peripheral physiology measurements using the BrainAmp ExG MR – Part 1: Let’s focus on EMG

Figure 4: The BrainAmp ExG MR in the recommended position at the foot end of the scanner bed. The measurement in the example is sEMG from the lower leg using Multitrode MR with 40 cm lead wires.

1.2. Safety considerations for sEMG-fMRI

Surface EMG signals can be measured at a wide variety of sites on the body and in contrast to EEG measurements, where the electrode position and lead wire routing is determined by the electrode cap, the position and routing of sEMG electrodes is up to the experimenter. This results in a great deal of variability in possible configurations. As such, sEMG-fMRI measurements can be considered riskier than EEG for the following reasons:

  • There is an increased risk of inappropriate or dangerous cable routing because the user is free to place the electrode wherever they like.

  • There is a risk of forming loops in the cables when using single/pairs of electrodes.

  • The multiple connectors (per electrode rather than the single connector box on an EEG cap) increases the risk of an electrode not being properly connected thus increasing the risk of antenna effects.

  • Longer cables are more susceptible to picking up radiofrequencies (RF) used during image acquisition.

These factors increase the possibility of heating in the electrodes and lead wires; this is something that we want to avoid so we can protect the participant and the BrainAmp ExG MR from harm. Now, our aim is not to scare you and deter you from doing EMG-fMRI measurements! sEMG-fMRI measurements can of course be done safely, and in this article we will explain how. The above list of risks can be reduced by following some simple recommendations:

  • Fix the electrode in place using tape so it cannot become disconnected if the participant moves.

  • Route the electrode lead wires as straight as possible between the measurement site and the ExG AUX box.

  • Use tape and / or sandbags to secure the lead wires so they cannot move and form loops or curves.

  • Use the shortest possible electrode lead wires for your set up. It is worth considering having a few different lengths available in your lab to allow for measuring participants of different heights and to allow some flexibility for which muscles can be measured across studies.

  • We recommend that you do not use a body coil as the RF transmitter coil for combined EMG-fMRI measurements.

1.3. Studies requiring a customized setup

The standard Multitrode MR has a 40 cm lead wire. This length is sufficient for lower limb sEMG (Figure 4); however, you might want to measure from other sites on the body. If we consider the recommended position of the amplifier at the foot end of the patient table, the variety of possible positions for the sEMG-fMRI electrodes, and the need to route the cables in a straight line, it becomes clear that custom cable lengths may be required for each individual sEMG setup. This also requires the height of the test population to be taken into consideration (e.g. children versus adults). We are happy to provide custom length MR conditional electrodes for sEMG. However, in contrast to standard EEG equipment, customised solutions are subject to a liability waiver because the experimenter is solely responsible for the site-specific implementation. Please get in touch with our Technical Support team if you have any questions about appropriate electrode lead wire lengths for your study.

2. Optimising your sEMG-fMRI setup

In addition to the safety aspects, it’s also necessary to keep in mind that bipolar measurements in the scanner can be challenging with respect to signal quality. But don’t worry, we will explain the secrets of successful sEMG in the scanner!

While EEG recordings in the MR environment work easily out of the box, successful sEMG in the scanner is based on three pre-conditions:

1. Optimised signal to noise ratio (SNR) in the raw signal going into the BrainAmp ExG MR
2. Bandwidth optimisation to facilitate using the BrainVision Analyzer 2 AAS gradient artifact correction algorithm
3. Optimal correction strategy using the Analyzer 2 AAS gradient artifact correction algorithm

We will take each of these pre-conditions in turn and explain how to optimise them.

2.1. Establishing optimised SNR for sEMG in MR-environments

When considering SNR optimisation, we assume that a crosstalk free sEMG is the signal of interest and the noise is caused by the scanner gradient system.

The first point we should consider is impedance at the skin-electrode interface. Due to the higher frequency band of interest, skin electrode impedances for sEMG are more important than for scalp EEG. We advise that impedances are approximately 5 kOhm for sEMG (Fridlund & Caccioppo, 1986). Preparation of the measurement site is also important and there are some considerations specific to sEMG. For example, limb sEMG is often carried out in regions with a thicker and drier epidermis than scalp EEG, so careful preparation using alcohol and high chloride abrasive gel is important and we recommend using Abralyt HiCl. Achieving the recommended impedance level is facilitated by the BrainAmp ExG MR impedance measurement circuit which gives precise impedance values for the positive (+) and negative (–) lead wire of each sEMG channel separately. Separate measurement of the + and – channels is important because they must be balanced to facilitate BrainAmp ExG MR common mode suppression in the best possible way.

In addition, the impedance of the ground (GND) electrode must be as low as possible and the lead wire paths of the + and – wires must be as close to each other as possible. Our pairs of Multitrode MR electrodes are bound together with a spiral tubing to make sure they stay close together.

The position of the recording electrodes is critical to optimising the SNR in the MR environment because the inter electrode distance affects not only the sEMG amplitude and possible crosstalk, but also the gradient artifact amplitude, thus signal AND noise. Consequently, when measuring sEMG in the scanner there is trade-off between maximised EMG amplitude and minimised gradient artifact amplitude. The further apart the electrodes are, the larger the gradient artifact, so a classical placement that works in the lab doesn’t generally work in the scanner, the electrodes need to be closer together. While EEG electrode positioning is given by the cap layout, sEMG electrode positioning has more degrees of freedom and therefore a greater impact on the overall signal quality. A good place to start for meaningful electrode positions and electrode distance is the SENIAM project: http://www.seniam.org. Once you have a good starting point, the fine tuning must be done in pilot sessions until the gradient correction results and EMG signal properties match the requirements of the study.

2.2. Establishing the signal bandwidth for sEMG in MR environments

While most EEG research is done in a frequency range below 60 Hz, for sEMG we required a higher signal bandwidth after gradient artifact correction. To achieve this, optimal preconditions for artifact removal using the average artifact subtraction (AAS) (Allen et al., 2000) method must be established. The AAS method uses a template subtraction approach and to make sure that the average artifact template closely matches the artifact to be subtracted, precise timing and recording of the artifact is necessary. The AAS approach is explained in Figure 5 and the preconditions are described below.

  • Correct BrainVision Recorder workspace settings are essential for successful recordings and we recommend the same settings as for EEG recordings in the MR environment. A full description of these setting can be found in our support tip “Setting up BrainVision Recorder for simultaneous EEG-fMRI” and we will summarise them below:

  • Another essential precondition is perfectly stable gradient system timing. This can be verified in existing EEG data or by pilot testing new setups. Our Technical Support team are happy to provide advice on how to do this.

  • The scanner gradient clock and BrainAmp ExG MR clock must be synchronized (Mandelkow et al. 2006) and this is done by means of the SyncBox.

  • Accurate temporal markers are required at the start of each imaging volume or slice:

  • If the timing and synchronisation preconditions are not met, there may be residual gradient artifact after gradient artifact correction which will jeopardise your sEMG project.

A guide to peripheral physiology measurements using the BrainAmp ExG MR – Part 1: Let’s focus on EMG

Figure 5: The sliding average concept used in average artifact subtraction (AAS) for gradient artifact correction. In part A, volume 4 is to be corrected by making an artifact template from volumes 1-7. In part B, volume 5 is to be corrected by making an artifact template from volumes 2-8. In part C, volume 6 is to be corrected by making an artifact template from volumes 3-9. This sliding average strategy is continued throughout the data, so the template for each volume is created from neighbouring volumes. A total of 21 volumes is recommended – the volume to be corrected plus 10 volumes before and 10 volume after. When the imaging volume is used to form the template the duration of the data included is 21 times the TR (repetition time). For example, with a TR of 2 s the data used in the template would span 42 s. If slices are used this overall duration is much shorter. For example, a slice duration is usually less than 100 ms (depending on the sequence), so the data used in the artifact template for 21 slices of 100 ms would be 2100 ms. This shorter duration means that the template is less susceptible to fluctuations in the gradient artifact over time, for example from movement.

2.3. Once the setup matches requirements, the gradient correction in BrainVision Analyzer 2 needs to be optimised

A comprehensive demonstration of how to use the MR Correction transformation in Analyzer 2 is provided in our webinar on handling scanner related artifacts, detailed instructions can also be found in the Analyzer 2 user manual. Below we will give an overview of points to consider when processing your sEMG data.

  • Check the accuracy of the volume or slice markers, each volume or slice should be exactly the same length.

  • Accurate volume or slice markers from the gradient system are always preferred, however, if your scanner does not provide these triggers, it is possible to detect the onsets using the MR Correction transformation.

  • Check the EMG traces for saturation before doing the gradient artifact correction. This step is particularly important during pilot testing so that you can modify your setup to avoid saturation in your main study.

  • The MR Correction transformation in Analyzer 2 offers various artifact template construction methods. The moving average algorithm is most appropriate with a window of 21 volumes or slices. The moving average is explained in Figure 5.

  • Meaningful target sampling rates for EMG are 1 kHz or 1.5 kHz. It is possible to change the sampling rate in the final data decimation step in the MR Correction transformation, however, it is a good idea to leave the data at 5 kHz and use the Change Sampling Rate transformation instead.

  •  If all steps are carried out correctly, sEMG up to 200 Hz can be expected.

  • Once you have cleaned the sEMG signal of scanner related artifacts you can continue with your standard processing pipeline. Some tips from our Scientific Support team for processing EMG signals in Analyzer 2 can be found in this article.

3. Our ‘top tips’ for successful EMG-fMRI

  • Place the BrainAmp ExG MR at the foot end of the scanner bed.

  • Run all electrode lead wires as straight as possible, secure them with tape or sandbags, and where possible avoid running them along body parts that might move.

  • Consider the position of electrodes, keeping in mind that they should be closer together than in the laboratory and there will be a trade-off between maximising your sEMG signal and minimising the gradient artifact.

  • To facilitate optimal gradient artifact correction, you should have perfectly timed volume/slice triggers and the BrainAmp ExG MR data acquisition should be synchronised with the scanner clock.

  • Any movement associated with the task will also influence the gradient artifact correction, so where possible minimise movement and consider using tasks involving isometric contraction if you are interested in task related EMG.

  • Check that the sEMG channels are not saturated by the gradient artifact, if they are, try moving the electrodes closer together.

  • Pilot testing! This is the most important recommendation that we can make. Thorough pilot testing will enable you to optimise your setup to record high quality sEMG data. Check out our article on the best practice for setting up an EEG-fMRI study. the same principles can be applied to setting up ExG-fMRI measurements.

Conclusion

We have covered the most important points to help you perform safe sEMG-fMRI measurements and obtain high quality sEMG data in the scanner. We hope you found this support tip helpful and if you have any further questions on this topic, please feel free to contact our Technical Support team. Remember that this is just the first in a series of support tips on ExG-fMRI measurements so stay tuned.

References

Allen, P. J., et al. (2000).
A method for removing imaging artifact from continuous EEG recorded during functional MRI.
Neuroimage 12(2): 230-239.

Fridlund, A. J. and J. T. Cacioppo (1986).
Guidelines for human electromyographic research.
Psychophysiology 23(5): 567-589.

Mandelkow, H., et al. (2006).
Synchronization facilitates removal of MRI artefacts from concurrent EEG recordings and increases usable bandwidth.
Neuroimage 32(3): 1120-1126.

Mullinger, K.J. et al. (2008)
Improved artifact correction for combined electroencephalography/functional MRI by means of synchronization and use of vectorcardiogram recordings.
J. Magn. Reson. Imaging, Vol. 27, Issue 3: 607-616.