A toolbox for model-free analysis of fMRI data

Abstract

We introduce Model-free Toolbox (MFBOX), a Matlab tool-box for analyzing multivariate data sets in an explorative fashion. Its main focus lies on the analysis of functional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data sets with various model-free or data-driven techniques. In this context, it can also be used as plugin for SPM5, a popular tool in regression-based fMRI analysis. The toolbox includes BSS algorithms based on various source models including ICA, spatiotemporal ICA, autodecorrelation and NMF. They can all be easily combined with higher-level analysis methods such as reliability analysis using projective clustering of the components, sliding time window analysis or hierarchical decomposition. As an example, we use MFBOX for the analysis of an fMRI experiment and present short comparisons with the SPM results. The MFBOX is freely available for download at http://mfbox.sf.net. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.