Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the newest tools for neuroimaging, and it will greatly contribute to clarify brain-language relationship. This review summarizes basic information about fMRI. A few examnles of the fMRI studies with 1.5T scanner were also introduced
(1) fMRI during Shiritori task. Shiritori which is similar to capping verres was lmployed as a task. The task (40sec.) and rest (40sec.) were alternatively performed 3 times. The fMRI signals generated during rest were subtracted from those during the task to clarify the actination related to Shiritori. A right-handed normal male subject showed activations mainly in the left frontal and parietal lobes. A left-handed normal male subject revealed activations in the right frontal and parietal lobes, and the left frontal lobe.
(2) Reliability of fMRI. Almost the same sites were activated in the right-handed subject as seen two weeks before.
(3) Clinical application. A right-handed female (40years old) had an infarction in the Broca'sregion and showed aphasia which was completely recovered 3 weeks later : She was measured with the fMRI during Shiritori task 10 years after the onset of stroke. Since she showed activations almost exclusively in the left hemisphere, we suppose that not, the right but the left hemisphere with the damaged Broca's region conpensated the deficit.
