Cited by 132Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesVisual perception and processing mechanismsAdvanced MRI Techniques and Applications

Measuring neural representations with fMRI: practices and pitfalls

Davis, Tyler, Poldrack, Russell A.·2013·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies seeking to answer questions about how the brain represents information. Representational questions are of particular importance in connecting neuroscientific and cognitive levels of analysis because it is at the representational level that many formal models of cognition make distinct predictions. This review discusses techniques for univariate, adaptation, and multivoxel analysis, and how they have been used to answer questions about content specificity in different regions of the brain, how this content is organized, and how representations are shaped by and contribute to cognitive processes. Each of the analysis techniques makes different assumptions about the underlying neural code and thus differ in how they can be applied to specific questions. We also discuss the many pitfalls of representational analysis, from the flexibility in data analysis pipelines to emergent nonrepresentational relationships that can arise between stimuli in a task.

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Crossref · 10.1111/nyas.12156

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Authors
Davis, T., & Poldrack, R. A.
Affiliations
  • Imaging Research Center
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Corresponding author
Davis, Tyler
Venue
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-06-05
Volume
1296
Issue
1
Pages
108-134
ISSN
  • 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
  • 1749-6632
OpenAlex
W2133129196
Cited by
132
References
147
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 1
FWCI
1.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
Keywords
neural representations, representational analysis, multi-voxel pattern analysis, univariate analysis, content specificity, neural code, cognitive models, data analysis pipeline, functional MRI
MeSH terms
Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nervous System, Photic Stimulation, Body Size, Neuroimaging

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