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Brain activation patterns elicited by the `Faces Symbol Test' — a pilot fMRI study

Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria, Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

F. Popotnig

Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria

S. Ropele

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

C. Neuper

Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria

F. Gorani

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

K. Petrovic

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

F. Ebner

Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

S. Strasser-Fuchs

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

F. Fazekas

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

C. Enzinger

Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Austria, , chris.enzinger{at}meduni-graz.at, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria

The Faces Symbol Test (FST) has recently been proposed as a brief and patient-friendly screening instrument for the assessment of cognitive dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, in contrast to well-established MS screening tests such as the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, the neural correlates of the FST have not been investigated so far. In the present study, we developed a functional MRI (fMRI) version of the FST to provide first data on brain regions and networks involved in this test. A sample of 19 healthy participants completed a version of the FST adapted for fMRI, requiring matching of faces and symbols in a multiple choice test and two further experimental conditions drawing on cognitive subcomponents (face matching and symbol matching). Imaging data showed a differential involvement of a fronto-parieto-occipital network in the three conditions. The most demanding FST condition elicited brain activation patterns related with sustained attention and executive control. These results suggest that the FST recruits brain networks critical for higher-order cognitive functions often impaired in MS patients. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 354—363. http://msj.sagepub.com

Key Words: cognition • Faces Symbol Test • functional MRI • multiple sclerosis

This version was published on April 1, 2008

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 14, No. 3, 354-363 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458507084030


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