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Pitfalls in fMRI

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Abstract

Several different techniques allow a functional assessment of neuronal activations by magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The by far most influential fMRI technique is based on a local T2*-sensitive hemodynamic response to neuronal activation, also known as the blood oxygenation level dependent or BOLD effect. Consequently, the term ‘fMRI’ is often used synonymously with BOLD imaging. Because interpretations of fMRI brain activation maps often appear intuitive and compelling, the reader might be tempted not to critically question the fundamental processes and assumptions. We review some essential processes and assumptions of BOLD fMRI and discuss related confounds and pitfalls in fMRI – from the underlying physiological effect, to data acquisition, data analysis and the interpretation of the results including clinical fMRI. A background framework is provided for the systematic and critical interpretation of fMRI results.

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Abbreviations

AVM:

arterio-venous malformation

BA:

Brodmann’s Area

BOLD:

blood oxygenation level dependent

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

DTI:

diffusion tensor imaging

DW:

diffusion weighted

EEG:

electroencephalography

EPI:

echo-planar imaging

FDR:

false discovery rate

FE:

fixed-effect

fMRI:

functional magnetic resonance imaging

FPR:

false-positive rate

FWER:

family-wise error rate

GE:

gradient echo

GLM:

general linear model

GM:

gray matter

HRF:

hemodynamic response function

ICA:

independent component analysis

MC:

motion correction

ME:

mixed-effect

MEG:

magnetencephalography

MM:

Mixture modeling

NBR:

negative BOLD response

RE:

random effects

ROI:

region of interest

RSN:

resting state networks

SE:

spin echo

SMA:

supplementary motor area

TAL:

Talairach space

TPR:

true-positive rate

VOI:

volume of interest

WM:

white matter

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Acknowledgements

We thank Georg Homola for assisting with data analyses and figure generations. Andreas Bartsch’s work has been generously facilitated by the Vera and Volker Doppelfeld Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Radiology, Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, CH 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Sven Haller

  2. Institute of Neuroradiology, Department of Imaging and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

    Sven Haller

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany

    Andreas J. Bartsch

  4. Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Andreas J. Bartsch

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  1. Sven Haller
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  2. Andreas J. Bartsch
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Correspondence to Sven Haller.

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Haller and Bartsch contributed equally.

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Haller, S., Bartsch, A.J. Pitfalls in fMRI. Eur Radiol 19, 2689–2706 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1456-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1456-9

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