Title
Do we really need robust and alternative inference methods for brain MRI?
Abstract
Voxel-wise statistical inference lies at the heart of quantitative multi-modal brain imaging. The general linear model with its fixed and mixed effects formulations has been the workhorse of empirical neuroscience for both structural and functional brain assessment. Yet, the validity of estimated p-values hinges upon assumptions of Gaussian distributed errors. Inference approaches based on relaxed distributional assumptions (e.g., non-parametric, robust) have been available in the statistical community for decades. Recently, there has been renewed interest in applying these methods in medical imaging. Despite theoretically attractive behavior, relaxing Gaussian assumptions comes at the practical cost of reduced power (when Gaussian assumptions are met), increased computational complexity, and limited community support. We discuss the challenges of applying robust and alternative statistical methods to medical imaging inference, characterize the conditions under which such approaches are necessary, and present a new quantitative framework to empirically justify selection of inference methods.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1007/978-3-642-33530-3_7
MBIA
Keywords
Field
DocType
voxel-wise statistical inference,limited community support,medical imaging inference,brain mri,alternative inference method,alternative statistical method,statistical community,inference method,medical imaging,gaussian assumption,functional brain assessment,quantitative multi-modal brain imaging,statistical parametric mapping,neuroimaging
Data mining,Frequentist inference,General linear model,Inference,Fiducial inference,Computer science,Gaussian,Statistical inference,Statistical theory,Computational complexity theory
Conference
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
23
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Bennett A. Landman170074.20
Xue Yang2193.78
Hakmook Kang3114.41