Flexible adaptive paradigms for fMRI using a novel software package 'Brain Analysis in Real-Time' (BART)

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Software Engineering

Background:

• Real-time adaptation of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) paradigms is crucial for enhancing experimental precision.
• Current methods often rely on post-hoc data exclusion, potentially reducing statistical power.
• There is a need for flexible, real-time software solutions to dynamically adjust fMRI experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel open-source software package for unified, real-time adaptation of fMRI stimulation procedures.
• To offer a flexible framework for adapting fMRI paradigms during ongoing experiments.
• To investigate the influence of subject compliance and physiological signals on fMRI experiments.

Main Methods:

• Development of an open-source software package enabling real-time fMRI paradigm adaptation.
• Integration of subject compliance parameters (e.g., gaze direction) and physiological fluctuations (e.g., blood pressure, pulse).
• Usability demonstration using an fMRI experiment with gaze-contingent emotional picture presentation.

Main Results:

• The developed software facilitates a priori adaptation of experimental paradigms during real-time fMRI acquisition.
• Demonstrated significant improvements in statistical power and effect sizes within emotion-related brain regions.
• The approach is particularly beneficial for studies with limited subjects, time, or resources, common in real-time fMRI.

Conclusions:

• The proposed software offers a powerful tool for real-time fMRI research, enabling dynamic experimental control.
• This method enhances data quality and statistical robustness compared to traditional post-hoc analyses.
• The software has broad applicability for investigating complex neuroscientific questions using fMRI.