Analysis of the Brain-activation Areas During the Visual Stimulations of 2D and 3D Imagery using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

The aim of this study is an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) investigation of the activity of the Brodmann brain areas during the viewing of 2D and 3D images. By using the 3.0 Tesla MRI system, an 8-channel SENSE Head Coil, and the ESys fMRI system in 5 adult males, 3D Tl-weighted images were obtained from anatomic images. A gradient-EPI sequence was used for the acquisition of the brain functional images. The monitor was installed so that the images could be seen through a mirror located in the coil. The 3D, appearance of the triangular, cubic, and hexagonal shapes were visually stimulated by the 2D and 3D images, and a pair of red blue cardboard glasses was worn during the viewing of the 3D images. The display object is composed of 4 stimulus projections every 60 s and 4 resting periods of 20 s every 20 s. The acquired data were analyzed using the SPM-8 program. For the 2D imagery, the activation area of the brain is larger than that of the 3D imagery (p <.05). In the visual-cortex activation area, the number of clusters is larger for the 3D imagery (p <.05). It is expected that the basic data of this study will be used to analyze the effects of 3D-image contents on the areas of the human brain.