Study of mental calculations under visual stimulation with functional MRI
XIAO Hui1, CHEN Zi-qian2, QIAN Gen-nian2, NI Ping2, CHEN Jin-hua2, WANG Jin-liang2, YANG Xi-zhang2
1. Radiology Department, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; 2. Center of Imaging, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, Fuzhou 350025, China
Abstract：Objective: To study mental calculations under visual stimulation of normal adult with functional MRI(fMRI) and investigate the roles of local areas for digital calculations． Materials and Methods: Twelve right-handed healthy subjects received exam include simple calculation and complex calculation experiment． Following block design, T1WI and GRE-EPI fMRI were performed with a 1.5T whole body MRI scanner． AFNI was used to process data and localize functional areas． The reaction time and correct ratio were analyzed with the statistical software Exce1． Results: Ten of 12 adults’ data were achieved. The reaction time were longer and correct ratio were decreased along with the task’s difficulty. The correct ratio of complex subtraction was different apparently between male and female. The male were superior to the female(P<0.05). Prefrontal cortex was the main area in the complex calculation． Compared with simple calculation, extent and magnitude of functional areas were increased obviously in complex calculation． Conclusion: fMRI can easily and readily detect brain functional areas related to mental calculations． Multiple functional areas are related to digital calculations and these areas may work together as a whole in processing arithmetic problems．
2007, Vol. 18 
