Is the center of mass (COM) a reliable parameter for the localization of brain function in fMRI?

The center of mass (COM) in functional MRI studies is defined as the center of a cerebral activation cluster. Although the COM is a well-accepted parameter for exactly localizing brain function, the reliability of COMs has not received much attention until now. Our goal was to investigate COM reliab...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:European Radiology Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 1031 - 1038
Main Authors: Fesl G, Braun B, Rau S, Wiesmann M, Ruge M, Bruhns P, Linn J, Stephan T, Ilmberger J, Tonn JC, Brückmann H, Fesl, G, Braun, B, Rau, S, Wiesmann, M, Ruge, M, Bruhns, P, Linn, J, Stephan, T, Ilmberger, J
Format: research Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature May2008
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=105659371&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 105659371
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        09387994
        NPH
      jtl: European Radiology
      issn: 09387994
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: May2008
      vid: 18
      iid: 5
      pid: 237
      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
    artinfo:
      ui:
        105659371
        31586971
        NLM18228024
        2009891846
        10.1007/s00330-008-0850-z
        NLM18228024
        105659371
      ppf: 1031
      ppct: 7
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: Is the center of mass (COM) a reliable parameter for the localization of brain function in fMRI?
      aug:
        au:
          Fesl G
          Braun B
          Rau S
          Wiesmann M
          Ruge M
          Bruhns P
          Linn J
          Stephan T
          Ilmberger J
          Tonn JC
          Brückmann H
          Fesl, G
          Braun, B
          Rau, S
          Wiesmann, M
          Ruge, M
          Bruhns, P
          Linn, J
          Stephan, T
          Ilmberger, J
        affil: Department of Neuroradiology, University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
      sug:
        subj:
          Brain Mapping Methods
          Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods
          Adult
          Fingers Physiology
          Image Processing, Computer Assisted
          Male
          Motor Activity Physiology
          Reproducibility of Results
          Tongue Physiology
          Human
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
      ab: The center of mass (COM) in functional MRI studies is defined as the center of a cerebral activation cluster. Although the COM is a well-accepted parameter for exactly localizing brain function, the reliability of COMs has not received much attention until now. Our goal was to investigate COM reliability as a function of the thresholding technique, the threshold level, and the type of COM calculation. Therefore 15 subjects were examined repeatedly using simple hand and tongue movement paradigms. Postprocessing was performed with uncorrected, corrected, and proportional thresholding as well as different threshold levels. Geometric and T-weighted COMs of left-hemispheric primary hand and tongue motor clusters were calculated. The COM variation was evaluated within and between repeated sessions depending on the different postprocessing setups. Mean COM variations over three repeated sessions varied between 1.6 mm and 9.8 mm for the hand paradigm and between 7.0 mm and 14.4 mm for the tongue task. Stringent thresholding techniques and high threshold levels were required to assess reliable results, whereas the kind of COM calculation was of lesser relevance. Thus, COM reliability cannot be presupposed; it depends strongly on the individual postprocessing techniques. This should be considered when using COMs for localizing brain function.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N