Spatial and temporal distribution of category-specific brain areas visualized through resting-state fMRI signals

Functional MRI （fMRI） studies have demonstrated that different brain areas specialize in various perceptual and cognitive functions. These include primary sensory functions such as visual and auditory processing and higher-order functions such as emotion and language processing. However, each identified brain area provides only static information in terms of signal processing in the brain. To clarify hot the active brain processes information, knowledge regarding the temporal characteristics of brain activity is required. In this study, we examined the possibility of estimating latency distribution among category-specific brain areas across the whole brain through resting-state fMRI signals. Latency differences were found between the primary visual/auditory areas and other high cognitive areas, such as those involved in attention, emotion, and word processing. These results suggest a potential use of resting^state fMRI data for temporal or dynamic brain maps.