Mike -
You might find answers to some of your questions (eg optimal block
length, SOA, jittering, etc - though not optimal scanner settings) in
Section F of the HBF Chapter available here:
http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/~rik.henson/refs.html#_meth
It also gives a few refs that you can follow up.
Rik
---------------------------------------------------------
DR RICHARD HENSON
MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit
15 Chaucer Road
Cambridge, CB2 2EF
England
EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
URL: http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/~rik.henson
TEL +44 (0)1223 355 294 x522
FAX +44 (0)1223 359 062
MOB +44 (0)794 1377 345
---------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Yassa" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 7:25 PM
Subject: [SPM] fmri design recommendations
> Dear SPMers and fMRI enthusiasts,
>
> One of the problems that clinicians (and fMRI non-experts) have to deal
> with, when developing a new cognitive activation paradigm to test an
> effect of interest, is that in most cases, a simple out-of-scanner
> psychological paradigm cannot be transferred to the fMRI environment
> without much modification in terms of design. Is there a single coherent
> source of information on how to design an "optimal" cognitive activation
> paradigm that people can use to guide their design process?
>
> For example, recommendations as far as optimum length of blocks, number
> of stimuli presentations, order (randomization), balanced designs,
> jittered timing, etc... Granted, that these parameters will vary from
> task to task and from scanner to scanner, but there are some common
> considerations that one needs to keep in mind when designing an fmri
> task. Also, as the science of imaging moves forward, more and more ways
> to optimize fmri tasks are being developed, so it would be good to keep
> on top of these changes.
>
> Would anyone care to comment on whether or not this is needed or if it
> already exists?
>
> Best,
>
> Mike
>
>
> --
> Michael A. Yassa
> Division of Psychiatric Neuro-imaging
> Department of Psychiarty and Behavioral Sciences
> Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
> 600 N. Wolfe St., Phipps 322
> Baltimore, MD 21287
> Tel: 410-955-7861 / Fax: 410-614-3676
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Web: http://pni.med.jhu.edu/people/yassa/yassa.htm
>
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