The present invention provides a method and device to record and visualize
drawing and writing movements during functional magnetic resonance
imaging (fMRI) of brain activity. The system includes a touch-sensitive
tablet, an elevated mounting platform, a stylus, and a controller box, as
well as the necessary cabling and software. All equipment residing inside
the magnet room is non-ferromagnetic and does not interfere with scanner
operation and does not affect fMRI data quality. Individuals lying inside
the scanner interact with device in a natural, intuitive way, similar to
writing with pen and paper. Drawing motions captured by the tablet are
displayed through a pair of fMRI-compatible goggles or by using a
projector and screen. Other visual stimuli can be concurrently presented
with the drawing motions for the purpose of assessing specific aspects of
human behavior. The system allows for a plurality of experiments to be
performed, all while brain activity is measured and recorded.