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13 - Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2026

Jonas Vibell
Affiliation:
University of Hawaii, Manoa
Thomas Thesen
Affiliation:
Dartmouth College, New Hampshire
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Summary

Chapter 13 discusses the analysis processes that transform raw brain imaging data into meaningful neuroscientific insights. It explains the methodical progression from preprocessing to advanced analytical techniques, emphasizing that analysis is not merely a technical afterthought but a fundamental component of neuroimaging research. The chapter begins by addressing preprocessing steps – quality control, artifact correction, normalization, and smoothing – that prepare data for subsequent analysis while preserving signal integrity. It then explores single-subject processing approaches that aggregate experimental conditions and trials to establish individual response patterns before proceeding to group-level analyses that enable population-level inferences. Statistical considerations receive particular attention, with the chapter explaining how techniques like statistical parametric mapping function as the interpretive lens through which brain activity becomes visible. The problematic issue of multiple comparisons is thoroughly examined, illustrating how whole-brain analyses necessitate statistical correction to prevent false positives in the tens of thousands of simultaneous tests typical in neuroimaging. The chapter extends beyond traditional univariate approaches to cover network analysis methodologies that reveal functional connectivity patterns between brain regions. It concludes by addressing emerging analytical frontiers: real-time analysis for brain–computer interfaces, closed-loop brain stimulation paradigms, and the methodological limitations that necessitate careful interpretation of neuroimaging results. Throughout, the chapter emphasizes that analytical expertise is as essential as technical proficiency with imaging hardware, and that understanding analytical limitations is crucial for responsible interpretation of the neural basis of cognition and behavior.

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Brain Imaging Essentials
Current Tools and Their Capabilities
, pp. 191 - 206
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2026

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References

Further Reading

Cohen, M. X. (2014). Analyzing neural time series data: Theory and practice, 1st ed. Cambridge: MIT Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, M. X. (2017). MATLAB for brain and cognitive scientists. Cambridge: MIT Press.Google Scholar
D’Esposito, M., Zarahn, E., & Aguirre, G. K. (1999). Event-related functional MRI: Implications for cognitive psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 125(1), 155164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lyon, L. (2017). Dead salmon and voodoo correlations: Should we be sceptical about functional MRI? Brain, 140(8), e53. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awx180.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Savoy, R. L. (2006). Using small numbers of subjects in fMRI-based research. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, 25(2), 5259. https://doi.org/10.1109/memb.2006.1607669.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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  • Analysis
  • Jonas Vibell, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Thomas Thesen, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire
  • Book: Brain Imaging Essentials
  • Online publication: 26 February 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009245555.014
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  • Analysis
  • Jonas Vibell, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Thomas Thesen, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire
  • Book: Brain Imaging Essentials
  • Online publication: 26 February 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009245555.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Analysis
  • Jonas Vibell, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Thomas Thesen, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire
  • Book: Brain Imaging Essentials
  • Online publication: 26 February 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009245555.014
Available formats
×