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Reproducibility of fMRI results across four institutions using a spatial working memory task
B J Casey1, J D Cohen, K O'Craven
1University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, USA. bjcasey@pitt.edu
Neuroimage
|October 6, 1998
Summary
This multisite functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study found reliable brain activation patterns in healthy adults across four institutions. The research confirms the reproducibility of fMRI methods for spatial working memory tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a key tool for cognitive neuroscience research.
- Assessing the reliability and reproducibility of fMRI across different institutions is crucial for its widespread adoption and validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of fMRI results from a multisite study.
- To examine consistency in fMRI data acquisition and analysis across diverse research sites.
Main Methods:
- A consortium of four U.S. sites conducted a multisite study using fMRI on healthy adults performing a spatial working memory task.
- Two datasets were analyzed: pooled data from two subjects per site, and statistical maps from five to eight subjects per site, aligned in stereotactic space.
Main Results:
- Reliable patterns of brain activation were consistently observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex across all four participating sites.
- Analyses demonstrated high consistency in findings, indicating reproducibility of fMRI results despite variations in image acquisition and analysis protocols.
Conclusions:
- This pioneering multisite fMRI study demonstrates highly consistent and reliable findings for spatial working memory tasks across different institutions.
- The results support the robustness and reproducibility of fMRI methodology in cognitive neuroscience research.