Interpreting Intervention Induced Neuroplasticity with fMRI: The Case for Multimodal Imaging Strategies

Figure 4

Utilising fMRI in conjunction with a number of other modalities. The red region indicates an area of significant activation, determined with fMRI. When combined with structural MRI, these activated regions can be used as ROIs in which targeted measures of cortical thickness can be made. When combined with diffusion MRI, the fMRI ROIs can be used as sample regions for FA and MD values within subcortical white matter, both of which provide information about tissue microstructure. These ROIs can also act as seed regions to drive tractography, from which white matter connectivity and integrity can be measured. Combining fMRI with TMS measures can also provide context to and certainty about the functional-relevance of fMRI-based findings. ROI: region of interest; FA: fractional anisotropy; MD: mean diffusivity; TMS: transcranial magnetic stimulation.