Dear Steve and Leann,
> Given 2 conditions, 1 scan/condition, 1 covariate obtained at each scan,
> mean-centered covariate with proportional global scaling. A condition &
> covariate design with a contrast 0 0 1 is equivalent to correlation
> between the change in covariate and the change in the scans.
Indeed or more precisely the partial correlation between the covariate
and scan-by-scan changes having accounted for the condition-specific
activations.
> Can this approach be generalized to a multi-group design ? If there are 2
> groups and 2 conditions, with 1 scan for each subject under each
> condition, and a single covariate collected during each scan, then would
> one specify 1 or 2 covariates.
I would specify two, each with a group-centered covariate. This would
allow you to look for differences in the partial correlation with the
contrast [0 0 0 0 1 -1]. i.e. models group x covariate interactions.
> If only one covariate is specified, would one test for a covariate effect
> in group 1 alone with the contrast 1 0 0 0 1 (Group 1, Group 2, Condition
> 1, Condition 2, Covariate), and the group x covariate interaction with the
> contrast 1 -1 0 0 1 ?
No. The interaction is not modeled with only one covariate. This contrast
is simply the main effect of group plus the main effect of contrast.
> Alternatively would one use 2 covariates ? Each covariate consisting of
> the mean centered values for a single group with 0 padding for the
> subjects in the other group, essentially what you get when you specify a
> group x covariate interation The effect of the covariate for group 1
> alone would be tested with the contrast 0 0 0 0 1 0 ( (Group 1, Group 2,
> Condition 1, Condition 2, Covariate1, Covariate 2) and the interaction
> across groups tested with the contrast 0 0 0 0 1 -1 ?
Exactly.
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> I have a very similar question to that posted by Steven Grant on June
> 9th. I have two groups of subjects who, on prescreening, exhibited
> differential mood responses (one group positive scores, the other
> negative) to a drug. So with 2 groups (positive and negative
> responders), 2 conditions (drug and placebo), 1 scan/subject under each
> condition, and 1 covariate (mood score) collected/scan, how would I go
> about determing whether rCMglu is affected by:
>
> 1) prescreening mood scores both within and across groups
These are the simple and main effects of mood (or group) and would be
best addressed with a second-level analysis using the subject-effect
parameter estimate images (i.e. averaging over condotions for each
subject).
> 2) post drug scan mood scores both within and across groups
> and also whether:
This is a main effect of 'post scan mood score' within the post drug
level of the condition effect. This is best analysed using a
condition-centered covariate ('post scan mood score') and testing for a
significant regression with 'drug'.
> 3) mean centering of the covariate is useful/necessary in these cases
Yes. For (1) there is not covariate required.
> 4) mean should be computed within group or across all subjects
For (2) within condition. There are other centering you could use to
look at different interactions. e.g. group-centered would allow you to
see if there was any interaction between prescreening and post scan
mood.
I hope this helps - Karl
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