Functional MRI testing calculation task in elderlies

Objective To explore the activation patterns of brain in calculation with functional MRI in elderlies.Methods Functional MR images were acquired in 20 healthy old subjects when they were receiving simple calculation and complex calculation experiment.SPM2 was used to process data and localize functional areas of brain.Results Prefrontal cortex,parietal lobe,cingulate gyrus,cerebellum and occipital lobe were activated during simple calculation and complex calculation task.The activated area was larger in complex calculation task than that in simple one and left hemisphere was the dominating area.Conclusion Prefrontal cortex,parietal lobe posterior cingulate gyrus are main network in calculation task of old subjects.With the increase of difficulty,more functional region should be involved.Left hemisphere was the dominating one in calculation task of old subjects.