Scan Once, Analyse Many: Using Large Open-Access Neuroimaging Datasets to Understand the Brain

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Data Science

Background:

• The era of abundant brain imaging data is here.
• Researchers are actively sharing data and undertaking large-scale data collection initiatives.
• The vision is for future researchers to utilize this data for secondary analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of currently available brain imaging datasets.
• To illustrate example use cases for secondary data analysis in neuroimaging.
• To discuss considerations and opportunities associated with utilizing large-scale existing datasets.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of available neuroimaging datasets.
• Identification and description of example use cases.
• Discussion of practical considerations for data reuse and large dataset utilization.

Main Results:

• Numerous brain imaging datasets are publicly accessible.
• Key use cases include examining individual differences, enhancing finding robustness, and improving reproducibility.
• Opportunities exist for methods development and replication studies using existing data.

Conclusions:

• The accessibility of brain imaging data presents significant opportunities for advancing neuroscience research.
• Secondary data analysis is facilitated by data sharing and large-scale initiatives.
• Careful consideration of data characteristics and research questions is crucial for effective data reuse.