Unlike traditional fMRI where a subject performs a series of validated tasks to "light up" or activate the target regions of the brain, resting-state fMRI captures regional brain activity without the additional stimulus of a task to complete. The data-driven method of identifying language laterality through functional connectivity analysis was developed previously at Children's National and applied in this setting to test its ability to map the dominant regions of the brain controlling language.

The study found that when compared with typical language assessment tasks, resting state fMRI functional connectivity analysis matched the results of the task activity findings slightly more than two thirds of the time. While more research is needed, the study succeeded in demonstrating the potential of data-driven methods to establish reliable language laterality even without a task-based fMRI.


"Our hope is that one day we may be able to expand the use of clinical fMRI as an effective, noninvasive tool for language mapping prior to epilepsy surgery by eliminating task completion as a requirement for success," says Madison Berl, PhD, a study author, director of research in the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, and a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Children's National.

The American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting is the largest professional gathering on epilepsy in the world.

Back to HCB News

MRI Homepage