Title
Improving The Accuracy Of Brain Activation Maps In The Group-Level Analysis Of Fmri Data Utilizing Spatiotemporal Gaussian Process Model
Abstract
Objective: Accuracy and precision of the statistical analysis methods used for brain activation maps are essential. Adjusting models to consider spatiotemporal correlation embedded in fMRI data may increase their accuracy, but it also introduces a high computational cost. The present study aimed to apply and assess the spatiotemporal Gaussian process (STGP) model to improve accuracy and reduce cost. Methods: We applied the spatiotemporal Gaussian process (STGP) model for both simulated and experimental memory tfMRI data and compared the findings with fast, fully Bayesian, and General Linear Models (GLM). To assess their accuracy and precision, the models were fitted to the simulated data (1000 voxels,100 times point for 50 people), and an average of accuracy indexes of 100 repetitions was computed. Functional and activation maps for all models were calculated in experimental data analysis. Results: STGP model resulted in a higher Z-score in the whole brain, in the 1000 most activated voxels, and in the frontal lobe as the approved memory area. Based on the simulated data, the STGP model showed more accuracy and precision than the other two models. However, its computational time was more than the GLM, as the price of model correction, but much less than that of the fast, fully Bayesian model. Conclusion: Spatiotemporal correlation further improved the accuracy of the STGP compared to the GLM and fast, fully Bayesian model. This can result in more accurate activation maps. Moreover, the STGP model's computational speed appears to be reasonable for model application.
Year
DOI
Venue
2021
10.1016/j.bspc.2021.103058
BIOMEDICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING AND CONTROL
Keywords
DocType
Volume
fMRI data analysis, Brain mapping, Spatiotemporal Gaussian process model, GLM, Accuracy assessment
Journal
70
ISSN
Citations 
PageRank 
1746-8094
0
0.34
References 
Authors
0
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Azam Saffar100.34
Vahid Malekian200.34
Majid Jafari Khaledi300.34
Yadollah Mehrabi400.34