fMRI Study in School Children Using Chinese Cognitive Task

Abstract

Objective To probe the possibility of performing functional MRI research in school children using cognitive task. Methods BOLD fMRI experiments using single shot GE EPI scan sequence were performed on 8 school children aging from 10 to 12 years. Two block designed Chinese cognitive tasks were devised,one based on homophone decision and the other on character decision. Results All the school children passed through the experiments. One of them had severe head motion during the scan,whereas the other seven children co operated very well. Averaged brain activation map had been obtained after data postprocessing. Conclusion fMRI experiments using cognitive task could be performed successfully in school children above the age of 10 years old.The predominant hemisphere for language has been developed in this age group,and the results suggested that the children have the similar brain activation mode comparing with adults. Due to the hyperactive nature of children,attention should be given to the scan duration.More subjects are needed when design a fMRI research in a pediatric group.

目的 使用磁共振腦功能成像技術在學齡兒童中進行腦認知科學研究。方法 使用單次激勵平面回波梯度掃描序列和組塊設計 ,對 8名小學在讀學生 (年齡 10～ 12歲 )進行了中文同音字和真假字判斷任務的血氧水平依賴對比成像。結果 8名小學生均能配合完成掃描。其中 1名在掃描過程中有顯著頭動 ,所獲圖像因運動偽影不能使用。其余 7名能保持頭部位置穩定 ,圖像資料經后處理獲清晰腦激活圖。結論 該年齡組兒童已形成語言優勢半球 ,在完成中文認知任務時顯示出與成人相似的激活腦區。多數兒童可很好配合完成實驗。鑒于兒童好動的特點 ,在設計實驗時應考慮增加被試者人數并注意避免掃描時間過長