Using movies to map language function in the brain before surgery
Naturalistic Neuroimaging for Presurgical Language Mapping
This study is testing a new way to see how your brain works with language while you watch short movie clips, making it easier for people with brain tumors to participate and helping doctors find the important language areas in your brain more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11021033 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates a new method for mapping language function in patients with brain tumors near critical language areas. Instead of traditional tasks that may be difficult for some patients, participants will watch short movie clips during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. This approach aims to provide a more accurate assessment of language function, especially for those with cognitive deficits, and improve patient compliance during the scanning process. The study will evaluate how effectively this method can identify language areas in the brain compared to conventional techniques.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with brain tumors located near language areas of the brain who may have language or cognitive deficits.
Not a fit: Patients without brain tumors or those whose language function is not at risk from surgery may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better surgical outcomes and preserve language function for patients undergoing brain surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using alternative methods for language mapping, but this specific approach using movie-watching is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tie, Yanmei — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Tie, Yanmei
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.