fMRI data analysis may ID different activation timings in the brain

Researchers used a high temporal resolution functional MRI (fMRI) data to examine the difference in the timing between brain activation areas by analyzing the task onset time of the statistical model shifted from the actual stimulation timing.

"Using a high temporal resolution fMRI data, we examined the way of dynamically visualizing the difference in the activation timing between the brain activation areas by analyzing the task onset time of the statistical model shifted from the actual stimulation timing," wrote Sumito Maruyama, PhD, radiology professor at the International University of Health and Welfare in Japan, and colleagues in the study published online March 7 in Academic Radiology, .  

Typically, in fMRI analysis, the timing of the stimulation sets the task onset time of the statistical model, Maruyama explained. Researchers used fMRI data with a high temporal resolution using 3T MRI for 10 dominantly right-handed health controls participants. During the scan, volunteers completed two sets of a rest and right-hand grip movements.  

Lastly, researchers performed statistical analyses created activation maps of multiple time phases by shifting the task onset time on the statistical model by one second forward or backward, according to study methods.  

Study results showed most activity was identified to the left of the primary motor area the supplementary motor area and to the right of the cerebellum in a majority of the participants brains.  

"In the right-hand grip movement, the primary motor area and the supplementary motor area were activated from 1.12 to 4.48 seconds earlier than the cerebellum," the researchers concluded.