Bielczyk NZ, Uithol S, van Mourik T, Anderson P, Glennon JC, Buitelaar JK. Disentangling causal webs in the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging: A review of current approaches.
Netw Neurosci 2019;
3:237-273. [PMID:
30793082 PMCID:
PMC6370462 DOI:
10.1162/netn_a_00062]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past two decades, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has been used to relate neuronal network activity to cognitive processing and behavior. Recently this approach has been augmented by algorithms that allow us to infer causal links between component populations of neuronal networks. Multiple inference procedures have been proposed to approach this research question but so far, each method has limitations when it comes to establishing whole-brain connectivity patterns. In this paper, we discuss eight ways to infer causality in fMRI research: Bayesian Nets, Dynamical Causal Modelling, Granger Causality, Likelihood Ratios, Linear Non-Gaussian Acyclic Models, Patel's Tau, Structural Equation Modelling, and Transfer Entropy. We finish with formulating some recommendations for the future directions in this area.
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