Recording and Processing of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Electromyographic Data for Assessment of Spontaneous Neuromuscular Activities

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Spontaneous activities in resting skeletal musculature in humans can vary with different physiological conditions, and their spatio-temporal patterns may indicate neuromuscular diseases. Current diagnostic methods, such as invasive needle electromyography and non-invasive muscle sonography, classify these activities based on their temporal patterns and rates. However, these established techniques are often invasive and spatially limited, providing localized information about muscle activity. A comprehensive examination of multiple muscle groups necessitates several invasive procedures, which can be cumbersome. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), particularly Diffusion-Weighted (DW)-MRI, offers a non-invasive, three-dimensional imaging approach that could overcome these limitations. DW-MRI is sensitive to incoherent motion, making it a promising tool for assessing muscle activity. This work explores the technical aspects of visualizing spontaneous activities in resting musculature using DW-MRI alongside non-invasive Surface ElectroMyoGraphy (sEMG). The research identifies the physiological relationships between signal voids in diffusion-weighted images and myoelectric activities, optimizing image acquisition for this complex task through advanced imaging techniques and innovative concepts.