Abstract
A major difficulty in studies of the brain, from the molecular to large-scale network level, is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results, since repeatability has been a problem in studies utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI) near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and positron-emission tomography (PET). More generally, an effort to replicate psychological studies has shown that the original results were unambiguously reobtained only 39% of the time. It has been suggested that researchers must undertake studies to identify factors that reduce reliability and conduct more carefully controlled studies to improve reliability. In our previous work, we examined whether changes in hand/arm posture can have a confounding effect on task-related brain activity. Here we show a solution to enhance reproducibility in a NIRS study in a hearing task. The results showed that crossed posture can lead to different results than parallel posture with respect to asymmetric functional connectivity, especially during non-resting state. Even when the only task is listening to speech stimuli, participants should be asked to place their hands on a surface and feet on the floor and keep the same stable posture to increase reproducibility of results. To achieve accurate reliability and reproductively of results, stable hand posture through the experiment is important.
Highlights
A major difficulty in studies of the brain, from the molecular to large-scale network level, is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results, since repeatability has been a problem in studies utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and positron-emission tomography (PET)1
We examined whether changes in hand/arm posture can have a confounding effect on task-related brain activity11
The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of hand/arm posture on the reliability of brain-activity measures associated with listening to speech or silence
Summary
A major difficulty in studies of the brain, from the molecular to large-scale network level, is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results, since repeatability has been a problem in studies utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI) near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and positronemission tomography (PET). We examined whether changes in hand/arm posture can have a confounding effect on task-related brain activity. We examined cerebral blood flow, which reflects neuronal activation, using NIRS in volunteers who were seated in front of a desk with their hands on the desk and feet firmly on the floor At regular intervals, they were instructed to switch between normal (parallel arm) and crossed positions of the hands while otherwise maintaining a stable posture. Experimenters in similar research topics should require subjects to maintain stable posture with hands on the table and feet on the floor to improve the reliability and reproducibility of results
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