[Brain structures of reading Japanese words with functional MRI]

This review examines recent progress in understanding mechanisms involved in language related brain functions using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The main focus is to detect differences in reading processes between the ideogram (Japanese kanji) and the phonogram (Indo-European language or Japanese kana). Inferior temporal (IT) areas on the language dominant side are involved in reading both characters. A plasticity model is introduced to explain the different localizations that have been ascribed to kana or kanji, respectively. FMRI will be an important clinical application for the preoperative evaluation of patients with lesions adjacent to these areas in the near future. Activation studies involving visual imagery and other relevant clinical issues are also briefly reviewed.