title: A comparison of analysis of variance and correlation methods for investigating cognitive development with functional magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Statistical approaches used in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study cognitive development are varied and evolving. Two approaches have generally been used. These are between-group end-point analysis of variance (ANOVA) and age-related regression. Differences in these 2 approaches could produce different results when applied to a single data set. Event-related fMRI data from a group of typically developing participants (n = 95; age range = 7-35 years) performing controlled lexical processing tasks were analyzed using both methods. Results from the 2 approaches showed significant overlap, but also noteworthy differences. The results suggest that for regions showing age-related changes, correlation was relatively more sensitive to more linear changes whereas ANOVA was relatively more sensitive to less-linear changes. These findings suggest that full characterization of developmental dynamics will require converging methodologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
authors.forename: Damien A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fair
authors.forename: Timothy T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Bradley L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Schlaggar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen