Visual processing of word and image in the fusiform gyrus

R74; BACKGROUND: The role of the left midfusiform gyrus as a target for visual word processing has been a topic of discussion. Numerous studies have utilized alphabetic writing for subject matter. However, few have addressed visual processing of Chinese characters in the left midfusiform gyrus. OBJECTIVE: To verify visual processing of Chinese characters and images in the left midfusiform gyrus using functional magnetic resonance imaging. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A blocked design paradigm study. Experiments were performed at the Room of Magnetic Resonance, Guangdong Provincial Second People's Hospital, China from May to June 2009. PARTICIPANTS: A total of eight undergraduate students were recruited from Guangzhou University of China, comprising two females and six males, aged 20-23 years. The subjects were right-handed, which was determined by a Chinese standard questionnaire. None of the subjects had a history of psychoneurosis, familial disease, color blindness, or color weakness. METHODS: A total of eight undergraduates were enrolled as subjects. Picture-naming and verb generation tasks were employed through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging. Analysis of Functional NeuroImages software was used to process the data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual processing of Chinese characters and images in the left midfusiform gyrus was measured. RESULTS: Picture-naming and verb generation tasks were shown to significantly activate the bilateral midfusiform gyrus. Activation occurred in the visual word form area of the left midfusiform gyrus. CONCLUSION: The left midfusiform gyrus plays a general role in visual processing of Chinese characters and images.