Mapping anterior temporal lobe language areas with fMRI: a multicenter normative study

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Epilepsy Surgery
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Anterior temporal lobe (ATL) resection is key for intractable epilepsy but risks cognitive deficits.
• Current fMRI methods show limited ATL activation, hindering preoperative planning.
• ATL is implicated in semantic integration, suggesting potential for targeted fMRI protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel fMRI protocol for reliable anterior temporal lobe (ATL) functional mapping.
• To assess the efficacy of a narrative comprehension task (Story task) versus a semantic control (Math task) for ATL activation.
• To evaluate the reproducibility of the protocol across multiple imaging centers.

Main Methods:

• Designed an fMRI protocol contrasting a Story task (narrative comprehension) with a Math task (semantic control).
• Validated the protocol in an initial cohort of 18 healthy participants.
• Replicated the protocol and findings across 6 additional imaging centers.

Main Results:

• The Story > Math contrast demonstrated robust bilateral activation in the ATL, lateral, and medial temporal lobes.
• The protocol showed high reproducibility across multiple independent imaging centers.
• The findings support the role of the ATL in semantic integration and conceptual processing.

Conclusions:

• The developed Story-Math fMRI protocol reliably activates surgical regions of interest in the ATL.
• Bilateral temporal lobe activation observed supports the involvement of both hemispheres in conceptual processing.
• This protocol may aid in predicting cognitive outcomes for ATL surgery when combined with language lateralization measures.