Comparison of fMRI data from passive listening and active-response story processing tasks in children.
OBJECTIVE
To use functional MRI (fMRI) methods to visualize a network of auditory and language-processing brain regions associated with processing an aurally-presented story. We compare a passive listening (PL) story paradigm to an active-response (AR) version including online performance monitoring and a sparse acquisition technique.


METHODS
Twenty children (ages 11-13 years) completed PL and AR story processing tasks. The PL version presented alternating 30-second blocks of stories and tones; the AR version presented story segments, comprehension questions, and 5-second tone sequences, with fMRI acquisitions between stimuli. fMRI data was analyzed using a general linear model approach and paired t-test identifying significant group activation.


RESULTS
Both tasks showed activation in the primary auditory cortex, superior temporal gyrus bilaterally, and left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). The AR task demonstrated more extensive activation, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior/posterior cingulate cortex. Comparison of effect size in each paradigm showed a larger effect for the AR paradigm in a left inferior frontal region-of-interest (ROI).


CONCLUSIONS
Activation patterns for story processing in children are similar in PL and AR tasks. Increases in extent and magnitude of activation in the AR task are likely associated with memory and attention resources engaged across acquisition intervals.
Vannest
Jennifer J
JJ
Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Jennifer.vannest@cchmc.org
Karunanayaka
Prasanna R
PR
Altaye
Mekibib
M
Schmithorst
Vincent J
VJ
Plante
Elena M
EM
Eaton
Kenneth J
KJ
Rasmussen
Jerod M
JM
Holland
Scott K
SK
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009010:Monte Carlo Method