Table V.

Proposed practical guidelines for the experimental design decision when using auditory stimuli

“Silent” designs

Suggested to use if:

• Experimental hypothesis implements interpretations of signal intensities within auditory cortex

• Subject group might have difficulties with SBN (selective attention, hearing threshold, increased task difficulty; e.g., children, elderly, patients)

• Experimental hypothesis is based on auditory selective attention, e.g., dichotic listening

• Auditory stimulus does not exceed 6 s or only parts of HRF are from interest for hypothesis

• Hypothesized functional network contains primary auditory cortex

• Multiple sessions will be scanned (e.g., pre‐post training/medication; longitudinal studies) AND attention to SBN may vary over time (e.g., improved attention/hearing; emotional state might change)

Please note: If time course of activation (HRF) should be assessed the use of a jittered “silent” method such as jittered STsamp is suggested

ERcont

Suggested to use if:

• Experimental hypothesis implements interpretations of signal intensities outside of auditory regions(extratemporal areas)

• Subjects are normal healthy adults and difficulties with SBN are not expected

• Experimental hypothesis is not based on selective attention

• Experimental design has more than two experimental conditions and/or baselines (otherwise increased session duration or decreased statistical power or decreased number of imaging time points (ITPs))

• Auditory stimulus exceeds 6 s and entire HRF is from interest for hypothesis

• Hypothesized functional network does not contain primary auditory cortex.

• Multiple sessions will be scanned (e.g., pre‐post training/medication; longitudinal studies) AND attention to SBN may not vary over time