Let’s Play the fMRI—Advantages of Gamified Paradigm in Examining the Motor Cortex of Young Children

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Łukasz Olewnik¹  Michał Podgórski²  Katarzyna Matera³  Piotr Grzelak³  Dobromiła Barańska³  Tomasz Puzio³ 

[1] Department of Anatomical Dissection and Donation, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland;Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Veteran’s Memorial Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland;Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital—Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland;

关键词: pediatrics;    functional magnetic resonance imaging;    gaming;    paradigm;    neuroimaging;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jcm11102929

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Performing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examination is difficult when a child needs to stay awake and cooperate. Many techniques help to prepare them for the study but without modification of the examination protocol. The objective of this research was to prepare a gamified motor paradigm (“computer game”) that will improve the fMRI examination of young children. Methods: After preparing a dedicated application the fMRI examination was performed on 60 healthy children (10 girls and 10 boys in each age group of 4, 5, and 6 years old). Each child performed the gamified and a standard motor paradigm, both based on squeezing a rubber bulb. The effectiveness of squeezing were compared. Results: With the application of the gamified paradigm children completed significantly more active blocks (3.3 ± 1.4) than for the standard paradigm (2.2 ± 1.6) (p < 0.0001). In mixed-effects Poisson regression, age (IRR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.5–2.5) and application of gamified paradigm (IRR = 5.6; 95%CI: 1.1–28.0) were significantly associated with more completed blocks. Conclusions: The gamified motor paradigm performed better than a standard paradigm in the fMRI examination of children between 4 and 6 years old. It allowed a significant increase in the number of completed active blocks and also better squeezing effectiveness in each block.

【 授权许可】

Unknown