Causal interpretation rules for encoding and decoding models in neuroimaging
Causal terminology is often introduced in the interpretation of encoding and decoding models trained on neuroimaging data. In this article, we investigate which causal statements are warranted and which ones are not supported by empirical evidence. We argue that the distinction between encoding and decoding models is not sufficient for this purpose: relevant features in encoding and decoding models carry a different meaning in stimulus- and in response-based experimental paradigms. We show that only encoding models in the stimulus-based setting support unambiguous causal interpretations. By combining encoding and decoding models trained on the same data, however, we obtain insights into causal relations beyond those that are implied by each individual model type. We illustrate the empirical relevance of our theoretical findings on EEG data recorded during a visuo-motor learning task.
Code (0)
등록된 구현이 없습니다.
Tasks
EEGElectroencephalogram (EEG)Similar Papers 제목 키워드 기반
Causal and anti-causal learning in pattern recognition for neuroimaging
Pattern recognition in neuroimaging distinguishes between two types of models: encoding- and decoding models. This distinction is based on the insight that brain state features, that are found to be relevant in an experi…
Causal InferenceThe right tool for the right question --- beyond the encoding versus decoding dichotomy
There are two major questions that neuroimaging studies attempt to answer: First, how are sensory stimuli represented in the brain (which we term the stimulus-based setting)? And, second, how does the brain generate cogn…
Decoding dynamic brain patterns from evoked responses: A tutorial on multivariate pattern analysis applied to time-series neuroimaging data
Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) or brain decoding methods have become standard practice in analysing fMRI data. Although decoding methods have been extensively applied in Brain Computing Interfaces (BCI), these meth…
Brain DecodingDimensionality ReductionEEGElectroencephalogram (EEG)+2Comparing interpretation methods in mental state decoding analyses with deep learning models
Deep learning (DL) models find increasing application in mental state decoding, where researchers seek to understand the mapping between mental states (e.g., perceiving fear or joy) and brain activity by identifying thos…
Explainable artificial intelligenceInterpreting Encoding and Decoding Models
Encoding and decoding models are widely used in systems, cognitive, and computational neuroscience to make sense of brain-activity data. However, the interpretation of their results requires care. Decoding models can hel…