A comparison of the mean signal change method and the voxel count method to evaluate the sensitivity of individual variability in visuospatial performance.
This study compared the mean signal change method and the voxel count method in evaluating the sensitivity of individual variability in visuospatial performance using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Sixteen right-handed male college students (mean age 23.2 years) participated in this study as subjects. Functional brain images were scanned with a 3T MRI single-shot EPI method during a visuospatial task. No correlation was found between visuospatial performance and the number of activated voxels in the activated brain areas. Significant positive correlations, however, were found between visuospatial performance and the mean signal changes of activated voxels in the parietal, frontal and other areas. In conclusion, the mean signal change is more sensitive to individual variability in visuospatial performance than the number of activated voxels.
Chung
Soon-Cheol
SC
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical & Health Science, Konkuk University, 322 Danwall-dong, Chungju, Chungbuk 380-701, South Korea. scchung@kku.ac.kr
Sohn
Jin-Hun
JH
Lee
Bongsoo
B
Tack
Gye-Rae
GR
Yi
Jeong-Han
JH
You
Ji-Hye
JH
Kwon
Ji-Hun
JH
Kim
Hyun-Jun
HJ
Lee
Soo-Yeol
SY
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015588:Observer Variation; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*