Between‐ and within‐site variability of fMRI localizations. Issue 6 (9th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rath, Jakob; Wurnig, Moritz; Fischmeister, Florian; Klinger, Nicolaus; Höllinger, Ilse; Geißler, Alexander; Aichhorn, Markus; Foki, Thomas; Kronbichler, Martin; Nickel, Janpeter; Siedentopf, Christian; Staffen, Wolfgang; Verius, Michael; Golaszewski, Stefan; Koppelstaetter, Florian; Auff, Eduard; Felber, Stephan; Seitz, Rüdiger J.; Beisteiner, Roland
• Is Part Of: Human brain mapping. Volume 37:Issue 6(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 2151
• Page End: 2160
• Publication Date: 2016-03-09
• Subjects: FMRI -- motor cortex -- somatosensory cortex -- multicenter study -- variability; Brain mapping -- Periodicals; 611.81
• DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23162
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1065-9471

Abstract

Abstract: This study provides first data about the spatial variability of fMRI sensorimotor localizations when investigating the same subjects at different fMRI sites. Results are comparable to a previous patient study. We found a median between‐site variability of about 6 mm independent of task (motor or sensory) and experimental standardization (high or low). An intraclass correlation coefficient analysis using data quality measures indicated a major influence of the fMRI site on variability. In accordance with this, within‐site localization variability was considerably lower (about 3 mm). We conclude that the fMRI site is a considerable confound for localization of brain activity. However, when performed by experienced clinical fMRI experts, brain pathology does not seem to have a relevant impact on the reliability of fMRI localizations. Hum Brain Mapp 37:2151–2160, 2016 . ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.