Research Design in Neuroimaging

Module description

Neuroimaging studies require design considerations beyond those that apply in purely behavioural experiments. This course presents some of these considerations and revisits design-related issues covered in the Introduction to Neuroimaging through concrete examples taken from the recent neuroimaging literature. Moreover, the course presents basic analysis techniques used in neuroimaging and discusses in detail the assumptions and problems associated with the techniques.

The module aims to introduce you to experimental design in cognitive neuroscience research, to provide you with tools for designing your own experiments and critically analyse existing research and to stimulate your critical thinking regarding experimental design and hypothesis testing.

The course also offers computer-based practicals in which software analysis tools are taught, with specific attention to event related designs in fMRI.

Course organization

The course is based on a series of lectures and seminars, one lecture and one seminar per week. A topic will be introduced in each of the weekly lectures by one of the lecturers, and will form the basis for the subsequent (student-led) seminar based on prepared reading.

Assessment for this module involves writing a critical analysis of a published paper (although the assessment of this course is currently being revised).

Lecture Topics

  • Experimental Design in Neuroimaging: Limitations and possibilities
  • Data Analysis in fMRI: General Linear Model
  • Eletrophysiological Methods: experimental design and analysis techniques
  • On individual differences in structure and function and how to deal with them
  • Exploratory vs. Hypothesis-driven design
  • Cognitive vs. stimulus-driven responses
  • Comparing groups
  • Incorporating parametric and behavioural measures