A practical protocol for measurements of spinal cord functional connectivity

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to study human brain function for over two decades, but only recently has this technique been successfully translated to the human spinal cord. The spinal cord is structurally and functionally unique, so resting state fMRI methods developed and optimized for the brain may not be appropriate when applied to the cord. This report therefore investigates the relative impact of different acquisition and processing choices (including run length, echo time, and bandpass filter width) on the detectability of resting state spinal cord networks at 3T. Our results suggest that frequencies beyond 0.08 Hz should be included in resting state analyses, a run length of ~8–12 mins is appropriate for reliable detection of the ventral (motor) network, and longer echo times – yet still shorter than values typically used for fMRI in the brain – may increase the detectability of the dorsal (sensory) network. Further studies are required to more fully understand and interpret the nature of resting state spinal cord networks in health and in disease, and the protocols described in this report are designed to assist such studies.