Brain Activity at the Phonation Detected by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated whether functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) could detect the brain activation sites during phonation and how findings could be applied clinically.
Subjects and methods: The subjects were 29 right handed adults in good health. We analyzed the brain activation sites during vowel sound phonation. fMRI measurement was carried out using gradient echo-echo planar imaging (GE-EPI) in a 1.5T clinical setting MR instrument (Magnetom Vision, Siemens). We used the sparse sampling method during the phonation task to avoid artifacts from facial movement. The fMRI data was collected and analyzed using statistical parametric mapping a personal computer.
Result: Both primary motor areas, premotor areas, kinetic speech areas, the supplementary motor area, the cerebellum, and the auditory area showed activation in the analysis performed on the subjects. These activation areas are consistent with previous reports using other fMRI protocols.
Conclusion: We could detect brain activity during phonation using the specified design and can clinically apply this technique for treatment.