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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
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Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks
Published on: December 5, 2014
Multisite fMRI reproducibility of a motor task using identical MR systems
Sergi G Costafreda1, Michael J Brammer, Ricardo Z N Vêncio
1Brain Image Analysis Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK. s.costafreda@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging : JMRI
|September 27, 2007
Summary
Multisite functional MRI (fMRI) studies are feasible. Reproducibility was high across identical scanners, with minimal between-scanner variability in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal changes and activation volumes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Medical Imaging Analysis
Background:
- Multisite neuroimaging studies require high reproducibility.
- Functional MRI (fMRI) is a key technique for assessing brain activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify between-scanner reproducibility of fMRI data in a multisite setting.
- To assess variability in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal change and activation volume.
Main Methods:
- Five identical 1.5T MRI scanners were used.
- Five subjects performed a finger tapping task repeatedly.
- Analysis of variance (ANOVA) estimated between-scanner and between-subject variability.
Main Results:
- Between-scanner variability was low for BOLD signal change (8.34%) and activation volume (5.46%).
- Between-subject variability constituted the majority of the total variation for both measures.
- Statistical significance was not reached for between-scanner effects (P > 0.114).
Conclusions:
- Identical scanner systems facilitate reproducible multisite fMRI studies.
- Subject variability is a larger contributor to data variation than scanner differences.
