PriMa: A low-cost, modular, open hardware, and 3D-printed fMRI manipulandum

Abstract

Motor actions in fMRI settings require specialized hardware to monitor, record, and control the subjects behavior. Commercially available options for such behavior tracking or control are very restricted and costly. We present a novel grasp manipulandum in a modular design, consisting of MRI-compatible, 3D printable buttons and a chassis for mounting. Button presses are detected by the interruption of an optical fiber path, which is digitized by a photodiode and subsequent signal amplification and thresholding. Two feedback devices (manipulanda) are constructed, one for macaques (Macaca mulatta) and one for human use. Both devices have been tested in their specific experimental setting and possible improvements are reported. Design files are shared under an open hardware license.

Keywords

• FMRI
• 3D Printing
• Open source
• Neuroscience
• Sensorimotor processing