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A Bayesian model for sparse, hierarchical, inver-covariance estimation is presented, and applied to multi-subject functional connectivity estimation in the human brain. It enables simultaneous inference of the strength of connectivity between brain regions at both subject and population level, and is applicable to fMRI, MEG and EEG data. Two versions of the model can encourage sparse connectivity, either using continuous priors to suppress irrelevant connections, or using an explicit description of the network structure to estimate the connection probability between each pair of regions. A large evaluation of this model, and thirteen methods that represent the state of the art of inverse covariance modelling, is conducted using both simulated and resting-state functional imaging datasets. Our novel Bayesian approach has similar performance to the best extant alternative, Ng et al.'s Sparse Group Gaussian Graphical Model algorithm, which also is based on a hierarchical structure. Using data from the Human Connectome Project, we show that these hierarchical models are able to reduce the measurement error in MEG beta-band functional networks by 10%, producing concomitant increases in estimates of the genetic influence on functional connectivity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.04.077

Type

Journal article

Journal

NeuroImage

Publication Date

09/2018

Volume

178

Pages

370 - 384

Addresses

Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA), Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Centre for Doctoral Training in Healthcare Innovation, Institute of Biomedical Engineering Science, Department of Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Keywords

Brain, Nerve Net, Neural Pathways, Animals, Cats, Macaca, Humans, Bayes Theorem, Algorithms, Models, Neurological, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Connectome, Datasets as Topic