Comparing dynamic causal models

W D Penny, K E Stephan, A Mechelli, K J Friston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

718 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

This article describes the use of Bayes factors for comparing dynamic causal models (DCMs). DCMs are used to make inferences about effective connectivity from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. These inferences, however, are contingent upon assumptions about model structure, that is, the connectivity pattern between the regions included in the model. Given the current lack of detailed knowledge on anatomical connectivity in the human brain, there are often considerable degrees of freedom when defining the connectional structure of DCMs. In addition, many plausible scientific hypotheses may exist about which connections are changed by experimental manipulation, and a formal procedure for directly comparing these competing hypotheses is highly desirable. In this article, we show how Bayes factors can be used to guide choices about model structure, both concerning the intrinsic connectivity pattern and the contextual modulation of individual connections. The combined use of Bayes factors and DCM thus allows one to evaluate competing scientific theories about the architecture of large-scale neural networks and the neuronal interactions that mediate perception and cognition.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1157-1172
Number of pages16
JournalNeuroImage
Volume22
Issue number3
Early online date20 May 2004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2004

Keywords

  • Attention
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Brain
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurological Models
  • Motion Perception
  • Neural Pathways
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Comparative Study

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