Practical Aspects of Conducting Large-Scale Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies in Children

Byars, Anna W.; Holland, Scott K.; Strawsburg, Richard H.; Bommer, Wendy A.; Dunn, Richard S.; Schmithorst, Vince; Plante, Elena

doi:10.1177/08830738020170122201

Cited by 195 publications

(178 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…shimming) and acquisition of the whole-brain anatomical scans. Details of the techniques used to obtain fMRI data from younger children, as well as the success rates, are given in (Byars et al, 2002). EPI-fMRI scan parameters were: TR/TE = 3000/38 ms; BW = 125 kHz; FOV = 25.6 X 25.6 cm; matrix = 64 X 64; slice thickness = 5 mm.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cognitive modules utilized for narrative comprehension in children: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

2006

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The ability to comprehend narratives constitutes an important component of human development and experience. The neural correlates of auditory narrative comprehension in children were investigated in a large-scale functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study involving 313 subjects ages 5-18. Using group Independent Component Analysis (ICA), bilateral task-related components were found comprising the primary auditory cortex, the mid-superior temporal gyrus, the hippocampus, the angular gyrus and medial aspect of the parietal lobule (precuneus/posterior cingulate). In addition, a right-lateralized component was found involving the most posterior aspect of the superior temporal gyrus, and a left-lateralized component was found comprising the inferior frontal gyrus (including Broca's area), the inferior parietal lobule, and the medial temporal gyrus. Using a novel data-driven analysis technique, increased task-related activity related to age was found in the components comprising the mid-superior temporal gyrus (Wernicke's area) and the posterior aspect of the superior temporal gyrus, while decreased activity related to age was found in the component comprising the angular gyrus. The results are discussed in light of recent hypotheses involving the functional segregation of Wernicke's area and the specific role of the mid-superior temporal gyrus in speech comprehension.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…30 sec. Techniques detailed elsewhere (Byars et al, 2002) were used to acclimatize the subjects to the MRI procedure and render them comfortable inside the scanner. An elastic strap was attached to either side of the head coil apparatus by means of Velcro strips and stretched over the subjects' foreheads in order to minimize head motion.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive modules utilized for narrative comprehension in children: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

2006

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“…More recently, fMRI has become the modality of choice for non-invasive localization [7]. In the pediatric environment, one drawback of fMRI is that the noise, possible claustrophobia, and intolerance of any head movement during scanning, can be challenging for children [8]. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) has been gaining acceptance as an adjunctive part of the pre-surgical functional mapping procedure [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Localization of Broca's area using verb generation tasks in the MEG: Validation against fMRI

Pang

Wang

Malone

et al. 2011

Neuroscience Letters

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Functional MRI (fMRI) is routinely used to non-invasively localize language areas. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is being explored as an alternative technique. MEG tasks to localize receptive language are well established although there are no standardized tasks to localize expressive language areas. We developed two expressive language tasks for MEG and validated their localizations against fMRI data. Ten right-handed adolescents (μ=17.5 years) were tested with fMRI and MEG on two tasks: verb generation to pictures and verb generation to words. MEG and fMRI data were normalized and overlaid. The number of overlapping voxels activated in fMRI and MEG were counted for each subject, for each task, at different thresholding levels. For picture verb generation, there was 100% concordance between MEG and fMRI lateralization, and for word verb generation, there was 75% concordance. A count showed 79.6% overlap of voxels activated by both MEG and fMRI for picture verb generation and 50.2% overlap for word verb generation. The percentage overlap decreased with increasingly stringent activation thresholds. Our novel MEG expressive language tasks successfully identified neural regions involved in language production and showed high concordance with fMRI laterality. Percentage overlap of activated voxels was also high when validated against fMRI, but showed task-specific and threshold-related effects. The high concordance and high percentage overlap between fMRI and MEG activations confirm the validity of our new MEG task. Furthermore, the higher concordance from the picture verb generation task suggests that this is a promising task for use in the young clinical population.

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“…Various strategies and techniques have been reported as a means to ensure comfort and cooperation of young children during neuroimaging sessions. Play therapy 12 , behavioral approaches 13,14,15,[16][17][18] and simulation 19 , the use of mock scanner areas 20,21 , basic relaxation 22 and a combination of these techniques 23 have all been shown to improve the participant's compliance and thus MRI data quality. Even more importantly, these strategies have proven to increase the comfort of families and children involved 12 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure

Raschle

Lee

Buechler

et al. 2009

JoVE

103

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Within the last decade there has been an increase in the use of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural basis of human perception, cognition and behavior 1, 2 . Moreover, this non-invasive imaging method has grown into a tool for clinicians and researchers to explore typical and atypical brain development. Although advances in neuroimaging tools and techniques are apparent, (f)MRI in young pediatric populations remains relatively infrequent 2 . Practical as well as technical challenges when imaging children present clinicians and research teams with a unique set of problems 3, 2 . To name just a few, the child participants are challenged by a need for motivation, alertness and cooperation. Anxiety may be an additional factor to be addressed. Researchers or clinicians need to consider time constraints, movement restriction, scanner background noise and unfamiliarity with the MR scanner environment 2,4-10 . A progressive use of functional and structural neuroimaging in younger age groups, however, could further add to our understanding of brain development. As an example, several research groups are currently working towards early detection of developmental disorders, potentially even before children present associated behavioral characteristics e.g.11 . Various strategies and techniques have been reported as a means to ensure comfort and cooperation of young children during neuroimaging sessions. Play therapy 12 , behavioral approaches 13,14,15,[16][17][18] and simulation 19 , the use of mock scanner areas 20,21 , basic relaxation 22 and a combination of these techniques 23 have all been shown to improve the participant's compliance and thus MRI data quality. Even more importantly, these strategies have proven to increase the comfort of families and children involved 12 . One of the main advances of such techniques for the clinical practice is the possibility of avoiding sedation or general anesthesia (GA) as a way to manage children's compliance during MR imaging sessions 19,20 . In the current video report, we present a pediatric neuroimaging protocol with guidelines and procedures that have proven to be successful to date in young children. ProtocolWe have incorporated general experimental testing guidelines as well as MRI specific approaches 12-23 into one complete neuroimaging protocol intended to guide researchers and clinicians during neuroimaging sessions with awake children as young as four years of age. First, we aim to emphasize general testing guidelines adapted for MRI examinations. Second, we provide a hands-on, step-by-step description of our neuroimaging protocol. In our experience, a single session of approximately 2.5 hours (including a maximal imaging time of 45-60 minutes) is sufficient to train and guide a child through a neuroimaging session. General GuidelinesAs in every testing session with pediatric populations, general guidelines and recommendations for how best to work with young children should be considered 24 . We highlight comfor...

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Practical Aspects of Conducting Large-Scale Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies in Children

Cited by 195 publications

References 17 publications

Cognitive modules utilized for narrative comprehension in children: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Cognitive modules utilized for narrative comprehension in children: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Localization of Broca's area using verb generation tasks in the MEG: Validation against fMRI

Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure

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