Voxel-based Bayesian lesion-symptom mapping

Neuroimage. 2010 Jan 1;49(1):597-602. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.07.061. Epub 2009 Jul 30.

Abstract

Most existing voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping methods are based on the same statistical foundation: null hypothesis significance testing (NHST). The two major limitations of these methods are the inability to infer that there is no difference in lesion proportions, and a requirement for multiple-comparison correction. We propose a Bayesian approach that directly models the posterior distribution of lesion-proportion difference, and makes decisions based on inference on this posterior distribution. Compared to NHST-based approaches, our Bayesian approach yields inference results with clearer semantics, and does not require multiple-comparison correction. We evaluated our Bayesian method using simulated data, and data from a study of acute ischemic left-hemispheric stroke. Results of both experiments indicate that the Bayesian approach is sensitive in detecting regions that characterize group differences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Brain Ischemia / pathology
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Computer Simulation
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Models, Statistical
  • Stroke / pathology*