Using data from neuroimaging, scientists can identify associations between different brain regions. Given that this relies on multivariate functional data, can more advanced statistical techniques enable a stronger understanding of what is happening in the brain?
This study by Kuang-Yao Lee, published in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, develops a functional structural equation model using directional analysis, which allows scientists to determine causal relationships between activity in different brain regions.
Lee also finds that the algorithms of his model are theoretically sound and consistently produce accurate results. Neuroscientists can apply the model to neurological data to better understand the mechanisms of neurological diseases and develop appropriate treatments.