A Scanner Independent Approach to Modeling Neural Activity with a Hardware Phantom

template, here we suggest to morph a standardized brain model onto the individual brains. By using the identical transformation function a standard MNI based three dimensional source model grid is transformed to an individual surface grid. Doing so each source grid knot is located at an individual position but represents a standardized MNI brain area. These individual but representative source models will be used by software packages like Curry in order to estimate source distributions for the evoked electrophysiological responses. Therefore current density reconstruction methods like Minimum Norm or SWARM are used. A single sphere or a BEM model generated from the individual geometry serves as volume conductor model. In future also highly realistic individual FEM models based on DTI information will be used for this purpose. For statistical analysis of the point-wise standardized source distributions a two-step procedure using EMEGS (www.emegs.org) is applied: First repeated measures ANOVAs including the respective factors are calculated for each time point and for each estimated representative generator source resulting in Statistical Parametric Maps in four dimensions. Providing a more classical second level ANOVA, generator activity will then be averaged across source regions and time intervals of interest. This method was successfully verified in the evaluation of studies investigating auditory steady state and auditory mismatch. Supported by the DFG (JU-445-5-1).