Implementations of clinical functional magnetic resonance imaging using character-based paradigms for the prediction of Chinese language dominance.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, functional MRI (fMRI) using word generation (WG) tasks has been shown to be effective for mapping the Chinese language-related brain areas. In clinical applications, however, patients' performance cannot be easily monitored during WG tasks. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of a word choice (WC) paradigm in the clinical setting and compared the results with those from WG tasks.


METHODS
Intrasubject comparisons of fMRI with both WG and WC paradigms were performed on six normal human subjects and two tumor patients. Subject responses in the WC paradigm, based on semantic judgments, were recorded. Activation strength, extent, and laterality were evaluated and compared.


RESULTS
Our results showed that fMRI with the WC paradigm evoked weaker neuronal activation than that with the WG paradigm in Chinese language-related brain areas. It was sufficient to reveal language laterality for clinical use, however. In addition, it resulted in less nonlanguage-specific brain activation.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from the patient data demonstrated strong evidence for the necessity of incorporating response monitoring during fMRI studies, which suggested that fMRI with the WC paradigm is more appropriate to be implemented for the prediction of Chinese language dominance in clinical environments.
Liu
Ho-Ling
HL
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. hlaliu@mail.cgu.edu.tw
Wu
Chien-Te
CT
Chen
Jian-Chuan
JC
Hsu
Yuan-Yu
YY
Wai
Yau-Yau
YY
Wan
Yung-Liang
YL
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009323:Natural Language Processing; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D013624:Taiwan