Methodological approaches in developmental neuroimaging studies

Abstract

Pediatric neuroimaging is increasingly providing insights into the neural basis of cognitive development. Indeed, we have now arrived at a stage where we can begin to identify optimal methodological and statistical approaches to the acquisition and analysis of developmental imaging data. In this article, we describe a number of these approaches and how their selection impacts the ability to examine and interpret developmental effects. We describe preferred approaches to task selection, definition of age groups, selection of fMRI designs, definition of regions of interest (ROI), optimal baseline measures, and treatment of timecourse data. Consideration of these aspects of developmental neuroimaging reveals that unlike single-group neuroimaging studies, developmental studies pose unique challenges that impact study planning, task design, data analysis, and the interpretation of findings.

(c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1

Design of a fast compound fast event‐related rewarded antisaccade task. Whole (compound trials) included the presentation of a ring of green dollar bill signs indicated that the subject could win money if they performed the forthcoming trial correctly (reward condition). A ring of blue pound signs indicated that there was no money at stake (neutral condition), regardless of performance. Each incentive cue was presented for 1.5 s. Following the cue, the fixation cross turned red to indicate the response preparation period (1.5). Finally, a peripheral light appeared for the first 75 ms of a 1.5 s saccade response period. Two variants of partial “catch” trials were used and consisted of the trial terminating either after the response preparation (labeled “Catch Trial 1”), or after the incentive cue (labeled “Catch Trial 2”). A white fixation cross (of 1.5, 3, or 4 s in duration) was presented between all trials. From Geier et al., 2009. $ appeared in red, # appeared in blue. The target appeared in yellow. The instruction cross appeared in red. [Color figure can be viewed in the online issue, which is available at www.interscience.wiley.com.]

Figure 2

HDR time course in the right ventral striatum showing age and reward incentive [neutral (gray) and rewarded (black)] interactions across time in a rewarded antisaccade task for adults and adolescents (symbols). From Geier et al., 2009.