Open AccessThe “Task B problem” and other considerations in developmental functional neuroimaging
Author(s) -
Church Jessica A.,
Petersen Steven E.,
Schlaggar Bradley L.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.21036
Subject(s) - neuroimaging , psychology , hum , cognitive psychology , task (project management) , functional imaging , cognition , functional neuroimaging , functional magnetic resonance imaging , neuroscience , cognitive science , management , economics , art , performance art , art history
Functional neuroimaging provides a remarkable tool to allow us to study cognition across the lifespan and in special populations in a safe way. However, experimenters face a number of methodological issues, and these issues are particularly pertinent when imaging children. This brief article discusses assessing task performance, strategies for dealing with group performance differences, controlling for movement, statistical power, proper atlas registration, and data analysis strategies. In addition, there will be discussion of two other topics that have important implications for interpreting fMRI data: the question of whether functional neuroanatomical differences between adults and children are the consequence of putative developmental neurovascular differences, and the issue of interpreting negative blood oxygenation‐level dependent (BOLD) signal change. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.