Preparing fMRI data for postprocessing: conversion modalities, preprocessing pipeline, and parametric and nonparametric approaches

Abstract

The complexity of raw functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data with artifacts leads to significant challenges in multioperations with these data. FMRI data analysis is extensively used in neuroimaging fields, but the tools for processing fMRI data are lacking. A novel APP DESIGNER conversion, preprocessing, and postprocessing of fMRI (CPREPP fMRI) tool is proposed and developed in this work. This toolbox is intended for pipeline fMRI data analysis, including full analysis of fMRI data, starting from DICOM conversion, then checking the quality of data at each step, and ending in postprocessing analysis. The CPREPP fMRI tool includes 12 conversions of scientific processes that reflect all conversion possibilities among them. In addition, specific preprocessing order steps are proposed on the basis of data acquisition mode (interleaved and sequential modes). A severe and crucial comparison between statistical parametric and nonparametric mapping approaches of second-level analysis is presented in the same tool. The CPREPP fMRI tool can provide reports to exclude subjects with the extreme movement of the head during the scan, and a range of fMRI images are generated to verify the normalization effect easily. Real fMRI data are used in this work to prepare fMRI data tests. The experiment stimuli are chewing and biting, and the data are acquired from the National Magnetic Resonance Research (UMRAM) Center in Ankara, Turkey. A free dataset is used to compare the methods for postprocessing fMRI tests.