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Inferring Effective Connectivity from fMRI Data

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fMRI: From Nuclear Spins to Brain Functions

Part of the book series: Biological Magnetic Resonance ((BIMR,volume 30))

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Abstract

A formal understanding of processes that result from the interaction of multiple elements is hardly possible without mathematical models of system dynamics. This is important in neuroscience, particularly in neuroimaging, where inference on causal mechanisms in neural systems, for example, effective connectivity, requires a model-based approach. Here, we focus on a Bayesian framework for inferring effective connectivity from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and dynamic causal modeling (DCM). DCM is a generative model of fMRI data which links hidden neural activity via a biophysical forward model to measured data. Bayesian inversion provides both the parameter distributions of the model parameters and (an approximation to) the model evidence; the latter provides a principled basis for model selection. Following a methodological discussion of DCM, we conclude with an outline of its potential use for clinical applications.

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Stephan, K., Li, B., Iglesias, S., Friston, K. (2015). Inferring Effective Connectivity from fMRI Data. In: Uludag, K., Ugurbil, K., Berliner, L. (eds) fMRI: From Nuclear Spins to Brain Functions. Biological Magnetic Resonance, vol 30. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7591-1_13

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