Development of Functional Studies and Methods to Better Understand Visual Function
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DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL STUDIES AND METHODS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND VISUAL FUNCTION DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Nasser Hussam Kashou, M.S. ***** The Ohio State University 2008 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Dr. Cynthia J. Roberts, Co-Adviser Dr. Ronald X. Xu, Co-Adviser Co-Adviser Dr. Lawrence E. Leguire Co-Adviser Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering c Copyright by Nasser Hussam Kashou 2008 ABSTRACT In the study of visual function an understanding of the visual pathways is essential. Once this is achieved then quantitative measurements can be made in order to assess the quality of vision. However, this development can at times be problematic and may lead to visual disorders. Some of these visual disorders are directly related to the development but others may not. We are concerned with mainly one of these visual disorders, infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS). Common ways INS is assessed is through visual evoked potentials (VEP), or electroretinigrams (ERG). The current work is a comprehensive multidisciplinary attempt to develop new tools and methods for assessing these visual functions in order to both complement as well as introduce new clinical tools that will help in finding efficient treatments by identifying the activation patterns in the brain. This is divided into three stages: functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) of oculomotor movements, development of a near infrared spectroscopy system (NIRS) for visual cortex monitoring, and finally an MRI post processing scheme to enhance the cortical imaging. These three stages are an attempt to develop tools in order to aid in visual function studies. ii Dedicated to my mother iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to praise Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, for blessing me with an education and guiding me throughout my life and I would like to thank my mother, Ibtisam El-Khatib, for her continuous support, motivation and guidance. I would also like to thank my advisors and mentors Dr. Lawrence E. Leguire, Dr. Cynthia J. Roberts, and Dr. Ronald X. Xu for allowing me this opportunity and helping me get through it successfully. iv VITA November 16, 1978 . Born - Beiruit, Lebanon March 16, 2001 . B.S. Electrical Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University June 15, 2004 . .M.S. Electrical Engineering, The Ohio State University August 26, 2007 . M.S. Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University January 19, 2007 - Present . .PhD Candidate, The Ohio State University. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Biomedical Engineering, studies in Vision Science, Functional MRI and Near Infrared Spectroscopy. Electrical Engineering, studies in Computer Engineering, VLSI Design and Image Processing. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract . ii Dedication . iii Acknowledgments . iv Vita......................................... v List of Tables . xi List of Figures . xv Chapters: 1. INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Statement of Problem . 1 1.2 Significance of Research . 1 1.3 Organization of Dissertation . 1 2. BACKGROUND OF THE ASCENDING VISUAL PATHWAY . 3 2.1 Introduction . 3 2.2 Visual Pathway . 5 2.2.1 Ganglion Cells . 5 2.2.2 Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) . 9 2.2.3 Primary Visual Cortex (V1) . 10 2.3 Development of the Ascending Pathway . 14 2.3.1 Disorders of the Ascending Pathway . 17 2.4 Conclusion . 21 vi 3. OVERVIEW OF BRAIN FUNCTIONAL STUDIES . 23 3.1 Introduction . 23 3.2 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging(FMRI) . 24 3.2.1 FMRI Visual Cortex Studies . 24 3.3 Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) . 31 3.3.1 FNIR Visual Cortex Studies . 32 3.4 Discussion . 35 4. FMRI on Look vs Stare Optokinetic Nystagmus (OKN) . 37 4.1 Abstract . 37 4.2 Introduction . 37 4.3 Materials and Methods . 39 4.3.1 Subjects . 39 4.3.2 Scanning sequences . 39 4.3.3 Optokinetic Nystagmus Stimulation Protocol . 40 4.3.4 Data Analysis . 42 4.4 Results . 44 4.4.1 Activation effects in individual subjects . 44 4.4.2 Group activation effects . 44 4.5 Discussion . 49 4.6 Conclusion . 54 5. PARADIGM EFFECTS ON LOOK VS STARE OPTOKINETIC NYS- TAGMUS (OKN): AN FMRI STUDY . 55 5.1 Abstract . 55 5.2 Introduction . 56 5.3 Materials and methods . 57 5.3.1 Subjects . 57 5.3.2 Scanning sequences . 58 5.3.3 Optokinetic Stimulation Protocol . 58 5.3.4 Data Analysis . 60 5.4 Results . 61 5.5 Discussion . 62 5.6 Conclusion . 65 6. FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (FMRI) OF VI- SUALLY GUIDED SACCADES AND SMOOTH PURSUIT AT 3T . 78 6.1 Abstract . 78 vii 6.2 Introduction . 79 6.3 Materials and Methods . 79 6.3.1 Subjects . 79 6.3.2 Scanning sequences . 80 6.3.3 Saccade and Pursuit Stimulation Protocol . 81 6.3.4 Data Analysis . 81 6.4 Results . 83 6.5 Discussion . 84 6.6 Conclusion . 89 7. COMPARISON OF AXIAL, SAGITAL, AND CORONAL IMAGING FOR SIMPLE FINGER TAPPING EXPERIMENT: AN FMRI CASE STUDY 90 7.1 Abstract . 90 7.2 Introduction . 90 7.3 Materials and Methods . 91 7.3.1 Subjects . 91 7.3.2 Scanning sequences . 91 7.3.3 Stimulation Protocol . 92 7.3.4 Data Analysis . 92 7.4 Results . 93 7.5 Discussion . 94 7.6 Conclusion . 95 8. TWO AND THREE DIMENSIONAL IMAGE COMBINATION FOR MRI ACQUIRED USING DIFFERENT SCANNING PLANES . 99 8.1 Abstract . 99 8.2 Introduction . 99 8.3 Background . 100 8.3.1 Significance . 100 8.3.2 Methods . 101 8.3.3 2 dimensional phantom (2-D) . 102 8.3.4 3 dimensional(3-D) phantom . 103 8.4 Results . 110 8.5 Discussion . 117 8.6 Conclusion . 118 9. USING FMRI AND FNIRS FOR LOCALIZATION AND MONITORING OF VISUAL CORTEX ACTIVITIES . 119 9.1 Abstract . 119 viii 9.2 Introduction . 119 9.3 Technology Review . 121 9.3.1 Near Infrared Light (NIR) . 121 9.3.2 NIR Systems . 122 9.4 Experimental Design . 123 9.4.1 FMRI Scanning Parameters . 123 9.4.2 FMRI Data Analysis . 124 9.4.3 FNIR Instrument and Sensor . 125 9.4.4 Task . 125 9.4.5 FNIR Data Analysis . 126 9.5 Results . 126 9.6 Discussion . 127 9.7 Conclusion . 130 10. DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A FUNCTIONAL TOOL USING NIRS FOR NON-INVASIVE DETECTION OF VISUAL CORTEX AC- TIVITIES . 132 10.1 Abstract . 132 10.2 Background . 133 10.3 Methods and Development . ..