Normalization question for fMRI analysis

[zhenghanQ]

I am wondering what people usually recommend in the literature nowadays for comparison between children (e.g. 8 - 12 y) and adults.

Shall we

1. use a customized brain template generated from all the sample brains we have including adults and children?
2. use MNI brain templates?
3. report results within each group without a direct comparison - i.e. use a pediatric brain template for children participants and use MNI brain template for adult participants?

Thanks!!

Zhenghan

[satra]

unless your adults group is in the 50+ years category, i would create a common template across the groups. at that age range, the brains are fairly stable in terms of gyrification. if you are not comparing groups, then i would create subgroup specific templates.