Some problems for representations of brain organization based on activation in functional imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Functional brain imaging is now dominant over lesion studies for brain-behavior relationships.
• Functional imaging is often favored for observing normal brain activity without the effects of damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review areas where standard functional imaging assumptions conflict with clinical observations.
• To contrast activation-based functional imaging with performance-based analysis.

Main Methods:

• Review of functional brain imaging studies.
• Comparison of activation-based analysis with performance-based analysis of functional imaging data.
• Contrast with findings from traditional lesion studies.

Main Results:

• Standard activation assumptions in functional imaging can yield results inconsistent with clinical experience.
• A performance-based analysis of functional imaging data, particularly for speech production, shows better agreement with lesion data.
• Established facts, like language lateralization, are sometimes overlooked in imaging interpretations.

Conclusions:

• Functional imaging offers significant potential but its interpretation requires caution.
• Over-reliance on activation assumptions without considering performance or lesion data may be premature.
• A balanced approach integrating functional imaging with lesion and performance data is crucial for understanding brain-behavior relationships.