Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41644798›Full record

ReviewChild's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery2026

Noninvasive imaging techniques to map language areas using BOLD signal fluctuations in pediatric epilepsy: a review.

Juan S Bottan, Reneé-Marie Ragguett, Lingkai Tang, Matea Zuljevic, Andrea Andrade, Emma G Duerden, Roy Eagleson, Sandrine de Ribaupierre, Maryam Nabavi Nouri

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Review in Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Juan S BottanDivision of Neurosurgery, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Reneé-Marie RagguettSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Lingkai TangSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Matea ZuljevicSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Andrea AndradeDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Emma G DuerdenSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Roy EaglesonSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Sandrine de RibaupierreDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Maryam Nabavi NouriDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada. Maryam.Nouri@lhsc.on.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccurate localization and lateralization of language areas are essential in the preoperative evaluation of children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) to minimize postoperative neurological deficits. Traditional invasive methods such as the Wada test and electrocortical stimulation remain gold standards but present significant limitations, especially in pediatric populations. Noninvasive techniques leveraging blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal fluctuations, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), offer interesting and convenient alternatives, but clinical evidence is limited. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge on noninvasive BOLD-based imaging techniques, specifically task-based and resting-state fMRI and fNIRS, for language mapping in children with epilepsy.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, focusing on studies employing fMRI and fNIRS for language mapping in pediatric epilepsy and cross-referencing. Special consideration was given to higher-impact studies, frequently cited publications, and works by leading experts in the field.

resultsTask-based fMRI remains the clinical standard for language mapping but is frequently compromised by poor task compliance in children. Resting-state fMRI provides a task-free alternative with high sensitivity but often yields broader, bilateral networks that complicate precise lateralization. fNIRS offers a portable and child-friendly option with excellent tolerability but is limited by its spatial resolution and depth penetration. Further standardization of the various data-processing methods used for these modalities is required.

conclusionBOLD-based noninvasive imaging techniques represent promising advancements in the preoperative evaluation of pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates. Future multicenter studies and the development of pediatric-specific tools are essential to establish standardized clinical use.

Indexed as

Broca AreaDrug Resistant EpilepsyMagnetic Resonance ImagingSpectroscopy, Near-InfraredWernicke AreaBrain MappingChildHumansOxygen SaturationBOLD signalFunctional MRI (fMRI)Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)Language mappingPediatric epilepsyResting-state functional connectivity

Identifiers

PMID41644798

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.