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A modified oddball paradigm for investigation of neural correlates of attention: a simultaneous ERP-fMRI study
Mateusz Rusiniak1, Monika Lewandowska, Tomasz Wolak
1World Hearing Center of The Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Str., 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland, m.rusiniak@ifps.org.pl.
Insights
This study developed a P300 event-related potentials (ERPs) and functional MRI (fMRI) protocol for simultaneous brain imaging. The method effectively captures neural correlates of attention in children and neuropsychiatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offer complementary insights into brain function.
- Investigating attention and working memory in specific populations requires robust neuroimaging protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a P300 experimental protocol for simultaneous event-related potentials (ERPs) and functional MRI (fMRI) data acquisition.
- To assess the utility of this protocol for studying attention and working memory in children and neuropsychiatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Eleven children underwent simultaneous ERP-fMRI using a modified oddball task.
- A control study outside the scanner utilized a standard two-stimuli oddball paradigm to validate the protocol.
- Continuous imaging was employed for BOLD and electroencephalographic signal registration.
Main Results:
- P300 component localization partially aligned with fMRI findings in frontal and parietal regions.
- Significant fMRI activations were observed in the middle frontal gyrus, insula, SMA, parietal lobule, thalamus, and cerebellum.
- ERPs acquired during fMRI were comparable to those recorded outside the scanner, with minor amplitude differences in the N100 component.
Conclusions:
- The developed paradigm is suitable for simultaneous ERP-fMRI registration of neural attention correlates.
- This approach holds promise for studying vulnerable populations, including children and neuropsychiatric patients.
Introduction:
The objective of the presented study was to develop and evaluate a P300 experimental protocol for simultaneous registration of event-related potentials (ERPs) and functional MRI (fMRI) data with continuous imaging. It may be useful for investigating attention and working memory processes in specific populations, such as children and neuropsychiatric patients.
Materials And Methods:
Eleven children were investigated with simultaneous ERP-fMRI. To fulfill requirements of both BOLD and electroencephalographic signal registration, a modified oddball task was used. To verify the ERP-fMRI protocol we also performed a study outside the scanner using a typical two-stimuli oddball paradigm.
Results:
Localization of the P300 component of ERPs partially corresponded with fMRI results in the frontal and parietal brain regions. FMRI activations were found in: middle frontal gyrus, insula, SMA, parietal lobule, thalamus, and cerebellum. Our modified oddball task provided ERP-fMRI results with high level of significance (EEG SNR=35, fMRI p<0.05-Bonf.). ERPs obtained in the scanner were comparable with those registered outside the scanner, although some differences in the amplitude were noticed, mainly in the N100 component.
Conclusion:
In our opinion the presented paradigm may be successfully applied for simultaneous ERP-fMRI registration of neural correlates of attention in vulnerable populations.
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